Nicaragua begins vaccination against covid-19 2:28
(CNN Spanish) -
The Nicaraguan Medical Unit and the Nicaraguan Medical Association, two independent trade associations, demanded this Thursday the Nicaraguan government through a statement that a universal and transparent vaccination plan against covid-19 be implemented in the middle of the increase in infections and deaths from the disease.
As this Thursday marks the first year of the first officially confirmed coronavirus case, the Nicaraguan Medical Unit assured that the government has disregarded the recommendations of the Pan American Health Organization, does not have transparent information on the pandemic and the virus detection tests are centralized by the Ministry of Health, which has generated, according to the union, a negative impact on the population and health personnel.
"In the case of health personnel, the state's negligence in providing personal protective equipment and organizing prevention services has been reflected in 884 cases, 116 deaths in health personnel and dismissal of personnel for demanding their rights", noted the entity.
The Ministry of Health has not ruled on the layoffs, nor on infections or deaths in health personnel.
Although President Daniel Ortega acknowledged last August - without saying giving figures - that some doctors have died from covid-19 in the country.
CNN has requested a comment from the government through the Communication and Citizenship Council, but we are still waiting for a response.
advertising
The vaccination plan in Nicaragua
The Nicaraguan government announced on January 13 that it expected to vaccinate 55% of the population, that is, more than 3.7 million people and that it had made purchase efforts to obtain the doses through the WHO Covax initiative .
The Medical Unit said that two months after the announcement, only 3,000 people had been vaccinated.
"The Covax donation is very slow (only 5% of the expected population has received it) and the progress of the vaccine plan to date is unknown," the statement said.
The two medical associations urge to immediately vaccinate all health personnel in public and private centers, from different specialties, and to promote an information campaign on how to access vaccines in an orderly and safe manner.
On March 2, the government announced the start of the voluntary vaccination process against covid-19 for patients with kidney, cancer and heart problems, while the start of vaccination for health personnel has not yet been reported.
As of March 16, the Ministry of Health reports 6,582 infections and 176 deaths from covid-19 in Nicaragua.
In contrast, the independent group Covid-19 Citizen Observatory, affirms that until March 10 there are 13,237 verified suspected cases and 3,002 deaths from pneumonia or coronavirus.
Pandemic
