Santo Domingo.- The former president of Dominican Medical College (CMD), Senen Caba, warned this Sunday about the rebound of infectious diseases in different regions of the country, after the heavy rains caused by the recent rains that occurred.
Caba explained that the cumulative effects of the rains, which in some southern areas exceeded the 500 and up to 600 millimeters, have created ideal conditions for the proliferation of vector and viral diseasessuch as the dengue, the leptospirosismalaria, conjunctivitis and respiratory infections.
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“While it is true that the rains are beneficial for agriculture and energy generation, they also bring with them apocalyptic angels such as dengue, leptospira and malaria, which are already on the rise throughout the country,” the doctor warned.
Worrying rebound in infectious diseases
According to Caba, cases of dengue have been reported in all provinceswhile those of leptospirosis have had a significant increasegoing from around 30 to more than 70 cases nationwide.
Until October 25, according to the latest report from the National Epidemiological Surveillance System (Sinave), the cases leptospirosis they reached the 108 infectionsa situation that could increase due to the rains. Also the dengue accumulated 255 cases and 792 malaria.
Likewise, he pointed out that the respiratory viral processes are also on the rise, driven by sudden temperature changes and the increase in rainfallwhich aggravates the incidence of Covid-19, influenza and common flu.
“Before the rains we already had a considerable proportion of Covid and influenza; now, with changes in temperature, these conditions are worsening and affect the vulnerable population more,” he pointed out.
Criticism of the lack of primary health care and prevention
The former president of the CMD was emphatic when pointing out that the country lacks a true primary care policywhich, in his opinion, exposes the population to preventable diseases.
Caba criticized that the different governments, including the current one, they do not invest adequately in preventionlimiting itself to inaugurating incomplete or half-baked hospitals.
“This government inaugurates hospitals under pressure, without finishing them. We saw it with the Taiwan hospital in Azua and with the Luis Eduardo Aybar, inaugurated at half a size. Preventive health is of no interest because it does not give votes or leave political benefits,” he questioned.
He recalled that the last serious attempt to strengthen primary care dates back to the government of Antonio Guzman Fernandezin the late 1970s, when a model of rural clinics inspired by the “Health for All in the Year 2000” program.
“After that, no government has really opted for prevention. Little more is done than vaccinating and charging foreign patients in public hospitals, without transparency about the destination of those funds,” he added.
Call to citizens to take care of their health
Caba urged the population to maintain basic hygiene measures to prevent infections: wash your hands frequently, avoid stagnant water, keep mosquito breeding sites cleanand do not consume foods of dubious origin or without adequate sanitary conditions.
“People must take care of themselves, because official attention is useless. There is no serious prevention policy; therefore, education and hygiene are the first defense tools,” he insisted.
The statements of Dr. Senén Caba were offered prior to the press conference of the Doctor Tejada Florentino Movement, in support of the candidate José Antonio Santana, candidate for the presidency of the Dominican Medical Collegewithin the framework of the elections that will be held next Wednesday, November 12.
