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 co ...

of the Brazilian Army and politician, he served as

Minister of Health A health minister is the member of a country's government typically responsible for protecting and promoting public health and providing welfare and other social security services. Some governments have separate ministers for mental health. Coun ...

between 2020 and 2021. He was previously married to Daisy Berqvist; they divorced at the time of the birth of their twins in 2004.

Career

Pazuello was born in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the Rio de Janeiro (state), state of the same name, Brazil's List of Brazilian states by population, third-most populous state, and the List of largest citi ...

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 a Brazilian city, capital and largest city of the state of Pará in ...

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

, 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 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,INFRAERO: 40 ANOS SERVINDO PESSOAS, EMPRESAS E O BRASIL. Retrieved 01/10/2014linha%5D/ref> being ...

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 The COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil has resulted in confirmed cases of COVID-19 and deaths. The virus was confirmed to have spread to Brazil on 25 February 2020, when a man from São Paulo who had traveled to Italy tested positive for the virus. ...

. 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, a ...

and

chloroquine Chloroquine is a medication primarily used to prevent and treat malaria in areas where malaria remains sensitive to its effects. Certain types of malaria, resistant strains, and complicated cases typically require different or additional medi ...

for treatment against

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickl ...

, 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 retired military officer who has been the 38th president of Brazil since 1 January 2019. He was elected in 2018 as a member of the Social Liberal Party, which he turn ...

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 (coronavirus disease 2019), the respiratory illness responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The virus previously had a No ...

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

Pazuzu In ancient Mesopotamian religion, Pazuzu ( akk, , translit=pà.zu.zu; also called Fazuzu or Pazuza) was a personification of the southwestern wind, and held kingship over the lilu wind demons. As an apotropaic entity, he was considered as bo ...

. 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 by ...

on 1 June 2021.

References

, - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Pazuello, Eduardo 1963 births Living people Brazilian generals Rio de Janeiro (state) politicians Health ministers of Brazil People from Rio de Janeiro (city) Progressistas politicians Brazilian people of Moroccan-Jewish descent