53
without being legally recognized as a person (infra para. 194). None of these
children had a birth certificate, a death certificate, or any other type of identification
document.146
73(74) Within the context of the precarious living and health conditions described,
the members of the Sawhoyamaxa Community, particularly the children and the
elderly, are vulnerable to diseases and epidemics, and many died from tetanus,
pneumonia, and measles, serious dehydration, cachexia, and enterocolitis or alleged
traffic and occupational accidents without any state control. Among the Community
members who died are:
1) NN Galarza: He died in September 2001. He received medical care
before death at the Hospital Regional de Concepción [Hospital Regional de
Concepción], where he was diagnosed tetanus and released, since
“nothing could be done.” After a few days the characteristic rigidity of this
disease set in and death ensued within hours, at an age of one month.147
His mother is Sonia Galarza-Aponte.
2) Rosana López: She died in 1997 from measles. She did not receive
medical care before she died. According to her mother, she had measles,
then cough, and as she did not receive any treatment, her condition
worsened and finally she suffered from diarrhea and died rapidly. She was
three years old.148 Her parents are Antonio López and Porfiria Alvarenga.
3) Eduardo Cáceres: He died in 1999 from pneumonia. Some days after
he got sick, his mother took him to the Hospital Regional de Concepción
[Hospital Regional de Concepción] [Concepcion Regional Hospital]. The
child was admitted into hospital, but was not administered medication
“due to economic reasons, that is, his mother could not afford to buy the
medicines he had been prescribed, and the child died eight days after
being admitted into hospital.” He was one year old.149 His mother is Nélida
Cáceres.
4) Eulalio Cáceres: He died in 1999 from pneumonia. He received
medical care before he died at the Hospital Regional de Concepción
[Hospital Regional de Concepción], where he was admitted, like his
brother, but was not administered medication. After his brother´s death,
his mother was asked to take Eulalio away from hospital if she was not to
buy the medication prescribed and he was released from hospital. He was
one month old.150 His mother is Nélida Cáceres.
146
Cf. response of the State to the request for evidence to facilitate the adjudication of the cse made
by the President of the Court on January 20, 2006 (case file on the merits, reparations, and costs, Volume
III, folios 610 and 611).
147
Cf. statement rendered by Mr. Pablo Balmaceda before a public official whose acts command full
faith and credit on January 17, 2006, supra note 44.
148
Cf. statement rendered by Mr. Pablo Balmaceda before a public official whose acts command full
faith and credit on January 17, 2006, supra note 44.
149
Cf. statement rendered by Mr. Pablo Balmaceda before a public official whose acts command full
faith and credit on January 17, 2006, supra note 44.
150
Cf. statement rendered by Mr. Pablo Balmaceda before a public official whose acts command full
faith and credit on January 17, 2006, supra note 44.