Eduardo Pazuello (born 19 July 1963) is a Brazilian

divisional general Divisional general is a general officer rank who commands an army division. The rank originates from the French Revolutionary System, and is used by a number of countries. The rank is above a brigade general, and normally below an army corps ...

of the

Brazilian Army The Brazilian Army (; EB) is the branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces responsible, externally, for defending the country in eminently terrestrial operations and, internally, for guaranteeing law, order and the constitutional branches, subordina ...

and politician, he served as Minister of Health between 2020 and 2021.

Career

Pazuello was born in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of Rio de Janeiro. It is the List of cities in Brazil by population, second-most-populous city in Brazil (after São Paulo) and the Largest cities in the America ...

to a prominent Moroccan-Jewish family. His grandfather, Abraham Joaquim Pazuello was born in

Belém Belém (; Portuguese for Bethlehem; initially called Nossa Senhora de Belém do Grão-Pará, in English Our Lady of Bethlehem of Great Pará), often called Belém of Pará, is the capital and largest city of the state of Pará in the north of B ...

and was the son of Moroccan-Jewish parents. He established himself in

Manaus Manaus () is the List of capitals of subdivisions of Brazil, capital and largest city of the States of Brazil, Brazilian state of Amazonas (Brazilian state), Amazonas. It is the List of largest cities in Brazil, seventh-largest city in Brazil, w ...

during the 1930s. His father, Nissim Pazuello, was an entrepreneur. General Pazuello acted in the coordination of the Army troops during the

2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Rio 2016, were an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with preliminary events i ...

, and, since February 2018, coordinated Operation Reception, which takes care of Venezuelan refugees in Roraima, besides previously serving as Secretary of Finances in the State Government of Roraima during the federal intervention, where he announced his leaving in February 2019. On 8 January 2020, left the coordination of the operation to command the 12th Military Region in Manaus, replacing Carlos Alberto Maciel Teixeira. In his sworn in, he stated that he'll continue the work in the defence of the Amazon. He was nominated Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Health by former minister

Nelson Teich Nelson Luiz Sperle Teich (born 24 July 1957) is a Brazilian oncologist, health consultant and entrepreneur who briefly served as Minister of Health of Brazil, from 17 April 2020 after being appointed by President Jair Bolsonaro to replace outg ...

to be the second in command, replacing João Gabbardo. In his nomination, Teich stated that he chose Pazuello due to his knowledge in logistics. In May 2020, a report by Agência Sportlight revealed that Eduardo Pazuello alleged "non-commercial use" in a contract of 13 years signed between

Infraero Empresa Brasileira de Infraestrutura Aeroportuária (abr. Infraero) is a Brazilian government corporation founded in 1973, authorized by Law 5,862, that is responsible for operating the main List of the busiest airports in Brazil, Brazilian com ...

and a company that earned R$ 5,000 (US$ ) per parachuting student, accusing him of administrative dishonesty. Still in May 2020, website Diário do Centro do Mundo revealed that Pazuello had put soldiers to pull carts, instead of horses.

Minister of Health

Assumed, as acting minister, the Ministry of Health after the leaving of Nelson Teich, on 15 May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. On 19 May 2020, Pazuello allowed the use of

hydroxychloroquine Hydroxychloroquine, sold under the brand name Plaquenil among others, is a medication used to prevent and treat malaria in areas where malaria remains sensitive to chloroquine. Other uses include treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, an ...

and

chloroquine Chloroquine is an antiparasitic medication that treats malaria. It works by increasing the levels of heme in the blood, a substance toxic to the malarial parasite. This kills the parasite and stops the infection from spreading. Certain types ...

for treatment against

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

, and, in June 2020, he was nominated Minister of Health and removed from his previous office as Executive Secretary. On 6 August 2020, minister Pazuello affirmed that the vaccine for COVID-19, in tests in Brazil, is scheduled to be released in January 2021. On 14 September 2020, president

Jair Bolsonaro Jair Messias Bolsonaro (; born 21 March 1955) is a Brazilian politician and former military officer who served as the 38th president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023. He previously served as a member of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies (Brazil), Chamb ...

decided to promote Pazuello as Minister of Health. On 14 March 2021, Pazuello asked for resignation as Minister of Health, alleging health problems. Later he said that he isn't sick and will be in the office until President Jair Bolsonaro request the position. Because of his negligence in the attempt to mitigate the spreading of the

SARS-CoV-2 Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is a strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19, the respiratory illness responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus previously had the Novel coronavirus, provisional nam ...

, and its immediate consequence of a high death toll, he became associated to

Pazuzu In ancient Mesopotamian religion, Pazuzu () is a demonic deity who was well known to the Babylonians and Assyrians throughout the first millennium BCE. He is shown with "a rather canine face with abnormally bulging eyes, a scaly body, a snake-h ...

. On 23 March 2021, Pazuello left the ministry of health.

Secretary of Strategic Affairs of the Presidency

Pazuello was announced as Secretary of Strategic Affairs of the

Presidency A presidency is an administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation. Although often the executive branch of government, and often personified b ...

on 1 June 2021.

References

, - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Pazuello, Eduardo 1963 births Living people Brazilian generals Rio de Janeiro (state) politicians Ministers of health of Brazil Military personnel from Rio de Janeiro (city) Politicians from Rio de Janeiro (city) Brazilian people of Moroccan-Jewish descent Liberal Party (Brazil, 2006) politicians