The Minister for Health of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Carlos Alvarado, spoke via videoconference this Monday at the 73rd World Health Assembly (WHA), which is held in Geneva, Switzerland, and organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
The minister highlighted the country’s efforts to control the epidemic and noted that the National Government established a high-level commission, led by President Nicolás Maduro himself, to address the global health crisis, which affects more than 200 nations and territories, according to the WHO:
«We have managed so far to maintain a flattened epidemic curve and a mortality of 0.3 cases per million inhabitants, with a recovery rate of more than 45%», while 98% of the cases have been asymptomatic or with mild clinical conditions», he specified during his speech.
In addition, he stressed that, of the cases confirmed in recent days, 80% come from nations such as Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Chile. They are «thousands of Venezuelans who are returning as they do not have any social protection in these countries», he added.
He reiterated the denounce about the imposition of blocking, illegal and coercive measures by the United States that prevent the acquisition of food and medicines, however, he explained that the Executive branch has implemented a plan to combat the virus.
In this sense, he explained that the plan is developed in three phases, such as the preparation and generation of conditions before the appearance of the first two cases in the country.
Also in the first stage, a maximum prevention campaign was launched, epidemiological surveillance was strengthened, health facilities were identified and prepared, a protocol was prepared and personnel were trained.
The second stage completed the declaration of a health emergency and rapid and drastic measures were taken, such as social quarantine, use of protection means, suspension of activities and personalized house-by-house mass screening, as well as diagnostic tests. The third stage involves strengthening hospitalization and recovery capacity, as he stressed.
Likewise, he acknowledged the support and cooperation of the WHO and its director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, also from the People’s Republic of China, Russia and other multilateral organizations, while emphasizing that Venezuela supports the principle of a single China.
