In Guatemala, antigen and PCR tests are carried out to detect the coronavirus in public health services. This, according to figures from the Ministry of Healthhas 73,855 tests available, that is, an average of 217 for each of the 340 municipalities.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), covid-19 tests help countries improve their response to the disease because they allow cases to be detected quickly, isolated when necessary, and treated without causing an outbreak. . In addition, they relieve pressure on hospitals and allow efforts to be focused on seriously ill patients.
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In the country, there are currently 73,855 tests in all health areas. There are even places where there are less than 100 of these instruments for the population. In El Progreso, for example, there are 71; in southwestern Petén, 14; in northern Petén, none.
From January 1 to October 19, 2023, Guatecompras reported 19 tenders by the Ministry of Health to acquire tests and resupply. Of these, seven were awarded, while the other 12 were dispensed with or declared void due to lack of offers. When asking the ministry how it will obtain these resources, it assured that in the next three weeks it will receive 216 thousand tests through OPS.
Country without vaccines
In Guatemala there are no doses against COVID-19. “In a country without vaccines it is important to detect cases in time to prevent outbreaks. Immunization is valid for three to six months, so if there are no boosters, older people and those with comorbidities remain at risk.”explains the infectious disease specialist, Nancy Sandoval.
According to the Ministry of Health, despite there being no biological agents, sweeps are not carried out to perform swabs because the level of transmission is not as high as at the beginning of the pandemic. In addition, it hopes to receive a donation of vaccines in 2024, although it does not specify the date.
According to Sandoval, in the absence of nearby testing stations, it is necessary to educate citizens to go to health centers with screening available when they have symptoms. Otherwise, he maintains, cases may increase because people do not know they are sick and continue in unprotected gatherings.
“At the end of August, doctors began to see a peak of positive cases in hospitals. To prevent it from getting worse, the natural immunity that we have developed due to infections also helps, but the risk of these flare-ups must be reduced.”he concludes.
As of October 19, 1 million 278 thousand 361 cases of covid-19 were detected in Guatemala. Of these patients, 20,264 died and to date there are an estimated 228 active cases. [Por Carmen Valle. Vía Ojoconmipisto]
