Saberes, actuares y sentires de la comunidad Misak de Bogotá en torno a la pandemia del COVID-19

Perceptions, Responses, and Feelings of the Misak Community in Bogotá regarding the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a series of challenges related to healthcare, the preservation of autonomy, and the protection of the rights of the indigenous communities in Latin America. In light of this, a qualitative study with a descriptive and interpretative approach was conducted, which involved interviewing members of the Misak community residing in Bogotá (Colombia) during 2021, in order to understand their knowledge, actions, and feelings regarding the pandemic. This work identified aspects relating to the Misak worldview and culture, as well as those associated with the provision of government aid, access to and acceptance of western medicine, and the social and emotional consequences stemming from COVID-19 in the community. We evidenced particular vulnerabilities and obstacles to guaranteeing the rights of the Misak community, especially in terms of health, which are comparable to those observed in other native populations of Latin America.

The Covid-19 pandemic introduced a series of challenges relating to healthcare provision, the guarantee of autonomy, and the protection of rights of the indigenous communities in Latin America. Owing to this situation, a qualitative investigation with a descriptive and interpretative approach was conducted, interviewing members of the Misak community residing in Bogotá, Colombia, during 2021, to understand their perspectives, feelings, and responses towards the pandemic within their society. Aspects relating to their worldview and culture, as well as those relating to government aid received, access and acceptability for western medicine, and the social and emotional consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic were identified. The results of the investigation showed vulnerabilities and barriers to protect the rights of the Misak community, especially those concerning to health, that are similar to those described in other indigenous people of Latin America.

A pandemia da COVID-19 representou um desafio para a atenção à saúde, a preservação da autonomia e a garantia dos direitos das comunidades indígenas latino-americanas. Considerando o referido, foi realizada uma pesquisa qualitativa, com abordagem descritiva e interpretativa, por meio de entrevistas com membros da comunidade indígena Misak que moravam na cidade de Bogotá, Colômbia, durante o ano de 2021. O objetivo era determinar os seus conhecimentos, ações e sentimentos sobre a pandemia. Foram identificados aspetos relacionados com a própria cosmovisão e cultura dos Misak, bem como fatores associados à prestação de ajuda estatal, ao acesso e à aceitação dos serviços de saúde ocidentais, e às consequências sociais e emocionais da COVID-19 na sua comunidade. Constatou-se que as vulnerabilidades e os obstáculos particulares à garantia dos direitos da comunidade Misak, especialmente na área da saúde, são comparáveis aos relatados por outras populações nativas em diferentes países da América Latina.