Mongabay · Climate & nature

Health Crisis Deepens for Peru's Matsés Amid Drought and Neglect

The Matsés Indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon are facing a severe health emergency due to a combination of climate change-induced drought, widespread disease outbreaks, and a lack of state support.

Recent investigations revealed that Matsés communities are suffering from significant outbreaks of malaria and hepatitis B. This health crisis is exacerbated by a worsening drought, which has lowered river levels, hindering transportation and preventing access to medical care for remote villages.

The Matsés, who first had official contact with the outside world in 1969, were exposed to infectious diseases to which they had no prior immunity, leading to devastating family deaths. This historical vulnerability continues to impact their health.

Community leaders report that sick individuals are dying from advanced hepatitis B complications, such as cirrhosis, with official government figures on hepatitis B deaths among the Matsés being disputed due to insufficient testing.

Civil society health brigades have screened only about 20% of the population, identifying 17 hepatitis B cases. The Ministry of Health attributes delays in aid to budget limitations and the region's remoteness.

The Matsés territory is part of a large corridor that also houses other isolated Indigenous groups. Displacement due to disease or drought could increase their risk of encountering illegal resource extraction operations, further endangering their health and environment.

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