The situation of violence in Mexico continues to be complex and even the health workers who work in the front line of care for patients with COVID19 have suffered aggressions associated with violence and that have put their physical integrity and that of their families at risk.
The regional delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has presented its 2021 Humanitarian Balance for Mexico and Central America, announcing that, during 2020, they managed to document an increase in aggressions against health services, registering near of 95 cases, of which 21 occurred in a context of violence or crisis unrelated to the pandemic.
Aggressions of the threats and attacks type have been registered
The ICRC has indicated that it has witnessed how, in the context of a pandemic, lack of information, uncertainty and fear are breeding grounds for health personnel to be the target of threats and attacks, which “puts under enormous pressure and stress to health systems and vulnerable communities whose access to medical services is hindered due to armed violence”.
It has been stated that the regional delegation of the ICRC for Mexico and Central America It even registered the armed entry to health facilities to execute a person, being the most frequent affectation, in addition to the closure of community medical centers as the main impact in terms of services.
They also documented the murder of a doctor, injuries to seven members of the health personnel; two direct attacks on Mexican Red Cross volunteers or facilities; eleven armed admissions to health facilities and a massive threat to health personnel.
The document states that “it is enough to review that, in recent years, twelve health centers in Guerrero were forced to close due to violence and, in Chihuahua, there were intermittent closures of health facilities.”
We must try to stop the pandemic that widens inequalities and accentuates violence
They also detailed that of the 74 remaining cases documented during the past year were directly related to the pandemic, among them there is a record of the affectation of 117 health workers: 79 nurses, 35 doctors and three volunteers from the Mexican Red Cross, as well as five hospitals and four ambulances were targeted.
The humanitarian organization has warned that “the consequences of these actions, although in some cases they were isolated, are: physical and psychological effects, stigmatization of health personnel and barriers to the provision of services to certain groups or communities.”
Said report was presented by Jordi Raich, head of the ICRC Regional Delegation for Mexico and Central America, who stressed that one of the most urgent challenges at the regional and global levels is to tackle the pandemic that widens inequalities and accentuates the consequences of violence.
He also recognized that ending “the other epidemic”, that of violence and aggression, imposes a much more complicated challenge and demands urgent actions in the short term and sustained over time. This after showing concern about the visible and invisible consequences associated with violence, such as, for example, homicides, disappearances, internal displacement, restrictions on movement, extortion, difficulties in accessing basic services such as health and health effects. mental and physical, which persist throughout the region.
Related Notes:
5 techniques to learn to manage your emotions in the workplace
CONAMED launches online course against conflict prevention for professionals in…
Chart of the Day: Most Common Misconduct Among Physicians