Mexico urges end to harassment of health personnel in pandemic
They are the first type of defense against the COVID-19 pandemic, however in elements of Mexico, doctors, nurses and other health workers are being harassed to the idea that federal authorities have pleaded for Mexicans showing solidarity.
While tributes to courageous medical personnel putting themselves in the virus' path circle the globe, Mexico and some other places have seen disturbing aggression born of fear.
Recently, a hospital in Guadalajara - Mexico's second-largest city - were told to wear civilian clothes to and from work instead of their scrubs or uniforms because some public buses refused to allow them to board. Other medical personnel have reported attacks which week someone threw flammable liquid on the doors of a fresh hospital under construction in the northern border state of Nuevo Leon.
"There were cases, you could say isolated, but all outrageous," Mexican undersecretary of health Hugo López-Gatell said Monday night. "Fear produces irrational reactions, reactions that produce no sense, haven't any foundation and have no justification if they want to do with respecting the dignity and the physical integrity of individuals."
In addition, it comes as the Mexican government has embarked in an enormous recruiting drive to strengthen the thin ranks of its public health system prior to the virus hits using its full force.
"It's a lot more outrageous with the health professionals that people all be based upon in this moment, because they are on leading lines facing this epidemic," López-Gatell said. "The declaration is of indignation and a demand that this not occur because it is completely punishable, sanctionable and will not be allowed."
Mexico has nearly 2,800 confirmed COVID-19 infections and 141 deaths. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as for example fever and cough that get rid of in 2-3 weeks. For a few, especially older adults and persons with existing health issues, it could cause more extreme illness, including pneumonia and death.
Authorities were moved to speak out publicly for the reason that incidents have continued spreading. Harassment of medical personnel in the western city of Guadalajara became a daily occurrence in recent weeks.
Edith Mujica Chávez, president of Jalisco state's Interinstitutional Commission of Nurses, denounced the attacks including physical aggression, verbal harassment and even having bleach solutions thrown at nurses.
In a letter to Gov. Enrique Alfaro, her organization asked for help and public condemnation of the attacks.
"Everybody knows we are potentially at risk in public areas health, but violence can never be tolerated, despite the fact that we are afraid of catching coronavirus," the letter said. "We must maintain our mental health and share information in order that they know nurses are not enemies of society."
Several cab drivers calling themselves "Code Red" for the reason that city banded together to provide free or reduced cost rides to health workers.
But the attacks haven't been limited by that city.
A nurse in metropolis of Merida, Yucatan wrote on Facebook of a recently available attack.
"While I was looking forward to my ride, two persons on a motorcycle threw an egg at my uniform," wrote Rafael Ramírez, who works at a public health clinic in Merida. "I didn't think these types of things happened inside our city. I felt powerless not having the ability to do anything while they rode on laughing."
"We don't deserve it," he wrote. "Am I afraid to visit work? Of course I am."
In the central state of Morelos late last month, residents of the rural community of Axochiapan protested outside their local hospital, which they heard could possibly be used to take care of coronavirus patients. When the hospital director came out to state nothing have been decided yet, a man shouted that they might burn a healthcare facility down.
A healthcare facility attacked this week in Sabinas Hidalgo, Nuevo Leon had been turned to the military to receive COVID-19 patients.
"To threaten the physical safety of medical personnel or even to affect the functioning and procedure of the hospital infrastructure dedicated in this moment to the health emergency puts at risk the capability of response that the populace requires,"said Víctor Hugo Borja, director of medical services for Mexico's public health system.
Mexico is not the only place seeing such harassment of medical personnel.
In Argentina, every night residents go out with their balconies or windows to applaud those employed in the health system. However in one incident, several residents within an apartment building advised a health care provider living there that she not maintain the building's common spaces or risk legal consequences. They told her to "not touch door handles, stairway railings and not be on the terrace."
In another case, a pharmacist found a sign on his building's elevator telling him he should leave the building never to spread the virus to his neighbors. He reported it to authorities.
Victoria Donda, head of Argentina's National Institute Against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism, said doctors and nurses were among an "enormous level of cases of discrimination" they are acquiring linked to the pandemic.
"We can not applaud at 9 during the night and discriminate at 9 each morning," she said. "We need to inform ourselves well in order that the emotions that burst forth aren't irrational in this emergency and we don't allow fear overtake us."
