False: Video lies in stating that Brazil was chosen by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the three countries that stood out the most in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The article cited to support the statement actually deals with the country’s participation in a group for planning actions in future pandemics. The selection did not have as a criterion the action of the countries in relation to covid, but diplomatic issues and regional representativeness.
Verified content: Video in which a man claims that Brazil was declared by the WHO as the best country in the Americas in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
where it was published: Helo and Kwai apps.
Completion of Proof: It is false that Brazil was chosen by the WHO as one of the three countries that best acted in the fight against the pandemic. The author of the video verified by Comprova claims to base the information on an article by Agência Brasil. However, the publication does not mention this data. The text deals with the choice of the country to integrate the Intergovernmental Negotiating Group (INB), which brings together five other countries from different continents.
The group focuses on planning an instrument – such as a treaty or agreement – for global empowerment in the fight against future pandemics. To Comprova, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the choice was made in consensus among WHO member countries and that it took into account, among other factors, the Brazilian experience in diplomatic negotiations.
The WHO cites the need for balance between developed and developing countries, each belonging to the regions where the organization operates, for the composition of the INB.
In the responses of all the bodies contacted by Comprova, and in the news consulted on its official channels and in communication vehicles, there is no mention of the choice of countries for having stood out in the fight against the pandemic.
Comprova classifies content invented or edited to change its original meaning and deliberately disclosed to spread a falsehood as false.
What the author of the publication says: The author was contacted by Comprova, but did not respond until the publication of this verification.
How do we check: The first step was to look for the material mentioned in the video. Until March 29, the news was still available on the Agência Brasil website. We also searched the WHO website for information about the group and its creation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website and the Twitter profile of the Minister of Health and other authorities were also consulted.
The team also contacted the WHO and Itamaraty via email.
Comprova also searched for the original video posted on Kwai. Based on the account name, we searched other social networks and found three Instagram profiles associated with the man in the video. The team contacted the author through one of these profiles.
Comprova made this verification based on scientific information and official data on the new coronavirus and covid-19 available on March 29, 2022.
What is the Intergovernmental Negotiating Group created by the WHO
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Group (INB) was created in December 2021. In an article published on the WHO website on the same date, the body explains that the objective of the project is to develop an instrument to strengthen prevention and response actions to future pandemics.
In addition to Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Holland, Japan and Thailand participate in the INB. The information is contained in a note released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in February this year.
At least two meetings between the members were planned by the WHO to be held later this year. The final instrument must be presented by 2024, with the establishment of measures to help combat future global emergencies.
In a note sent to Comprova, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed that Brazil was chosen as a member by consensus among the countries of the Americas and involved diplomatic issues. The organization also mentioned that the country has an important pharmaceutical industrial park.
“The country has solid credentials to represent the continent in the ‘bureau’. As a developing country with an important pharmaceutical industrial park, Brazil shares both perspective and experience, as well as the region’s needs and skills. In addition, the extensive Brazilian experience in negotiations at the WHO and our recognized diplomatic capacity are being mobilized in favor of the Americas”, said the Itamaraty.
Already in the minutes of the meeting to create the INB, in December of last year, the WHO informs that the election of the two co-chairs of the group should reflect the balance between developed and developing countries. The minutes also mention the election of four vice presidents, and that each member must represent one of the six regions in which the WHO operates.
On February 24, the members of the INB were elected during the group’s first meeting. Brazil is represented by Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes, one of the four vice presidents elected.
Pandemic in Brazil
Comprova questioned whether the WHO has any ranking that points out Brazil as one of the best in the fight against the pandemic and if, therefore, it would have been chosen to integrate the INB. In the response, the WHO only forwarded links on the creation of the group, in which the information is not included. In internet searches, no data was found about it either.
According to the organization’s covid data panel, Brazil is the third country in the world with the most confirmed cases. Until Monday (28), 29 million people had been infected. Only the United States (79 million) and India (43 million) are ahead.
In relation to deaths from covid, Brazil is the second country in the WHO ranking – 658 thousand people died as a result of the disease until March this year.
Data from Our World in Data show that in Brazil for every 1 million inhabitants, 139 thousand were infected. The country is ahead of countries like Russia, Mexico and Japan.
In January 2021, Brazil was considered the worst country in the world in managing the pandemic. The assessment was made by the Australian institute Lowy Institute, which does independent research on the management of the pandemic in different countries, and analyzed almost 100 studies according to criteria such as confirmed cases, deaths and the ability to detect the disease.
Who is the author of the publication
The man, identified on social media as Sergio de Almeida de Farias, has 5,000 followers on Kwai and his publications accumulate more than 51,000 likes. Most of them criticize former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the Workers’ Party (PT). In his profile, the author describes himself as “a bricklayer and more than 30 professions, a paratrooper, a soldier, a capoeirista, a universalist spiritualist, an extreme patriot and a favela dweller.”
Despite identifying himself as a military officer, Comprova searched the Transparency Portal that did not point to any link between Sergio and the Armed Forces. Wanted, the man did not respond to our questions.
why do we investigate: Comprova checks content that goes viral on the internet about public policies, the pandemic and this year’s presidential elections. The video in question shares false information about the federal government’s role in combating the pandemic, which can influence citizens in the choice of candidates, as the current president is running for reelection.
Scope of publication: The video reached 75,000 views on Kwai by 3:20 pm on 3/28. On Helo, there were 1,200 likes and 1,000 shares.
Other checks on the topic: In previous verification, Comprova showed that text on Telegram spreads conspiracy theory about WHO’s international treaty.
Investigated by Metrópoles, O Dia and NSC Comunicação. Verified by O Popular, CBN Cuiabá, CNN Brasil, Estadão, A Gazeta, Plural Curitiba, Jornal do Comércio, SBT and SBT News.
Source: CNN Brasil
