“First is your own health”: López-Gatell’s message to internists

In early April, some academic institutions withdrew medical internists to take care of your health from the coronavirus epidemic that Mexico is going through. However, at the end of the same month, there was talk of a return of the students to the health units to help care for the sick.

Thus, Hugo López-Gatell Ramírez, Undersecretary for Prevention and Health Promotion, spoke about the issue at the press conference this Saturday. In a short message, He asked them to take care of their health first and foremost.

“I remind you that when you have returned to the clinical field, to continue your training in the fifth year of your medical training, they have a very important responsibility to contribute to health teams to care for sick people ”, expressed the official.

He explained that they must seek their health. Further, noted that medical units must have all the necessary equipment to fight the disease and, thus, they run the least risk of contagion possible.

“You must not forget that first of all there is your own health care. Everything you do in the clinical field must be carefully organized, so that you have better and the highest protection in health terms, “he stressed.

He recalled that Covid-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is highly contagious. “Although most of you are young and without chronic diseases, each and every one has a high risk of becoming infected when they are in the clinical space ”, he indicated.

“Stick to all the guidelines and read the infection control guide. Let your mentors guide you in the clinical unit, they attend to all indications and only agree to practice procedures that are safe ”he asserted.

López-Gatell asked that they refrain from doing risky procedures. “It is preferred that you refrain from practicing the most risky procedures, particularly endotracheal intubation, “he added.

He thanked them for all their work to combat the virus. and their dedication to face this panorama that the country is going through.

He explained that the responsibility of the students lies with the educational institutions. “Several decided to withdraw the internal doctors. They are within their rights if they believe that it is the way to guarantee the protection of their students, ”he clarified.

Regarding the lack of supplies that have been reported in various hospitals, the undersecretary assured that everyone must have these security measures. “All people in health units must have sufficient and timely access to personal protective equipment”he stressed.

Lastly, he exhorted them not to endure abuses by the authorities, if they do not wish to enter medical units. “If someone threatens them, they should denounce. No one should be threatened ”, ended.

At the beginning of the conference, the official gave the figures for the pandemic. In Mexico, the number of cases of people infected with COVID-19 increased to 22,088 patients confirmed and the number of fatalities grew to 2,061.

There are 6,580 confirmed active cases in the country, which represent the active epidemic and its symptom onset date is within the last 14 days. There are 14,536 suspected cases, 57,167 negative, and a total of 93,791 people studied.

López-Gatell reported that there are 41 days of the National Sana Distancia Day and there are 28 more days to go. In addition to emphasizing that the interruption of non-essential activities was to remove the elements that encourage leaving the house.

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