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In so far this year 148 thousand 670 cases of malaria are reported. This figure is equivalent to a 72% increase compared to the same period last year and it exceeds the total recorded in 2015.
Official sources statistics, although not disclosed, were presented yesterday by the former Minister of Health, Jose Felix Oletta, at a press conference convened by the Center of Development Studies of the Central University of Venezuela (Cendes-UCV), the Tropical Medicine Institute of the same university, the National Medicine Academy, The Venezuelan Network of Medical Scientific Associations of Venezuela, the Venezuelan Society of Public Health, the Venezuelan Society of Infectious Diseases, the Venezuelan Society of Childcare and Paedriatics, the Network Let’s Defend National Epidemiology, the Venezuelan Society of Parasitology, the Venezuelan Association for the Progress of University Research, Fudavac and the Venezuelan Health Observatory (OVS).
Along with the increase in cases, scarcity of specific drugs to treat malaria worsens. This, because the government did not make the timely request of the drugs and also because there are debts with the pharmaceutical sector, warned the coalition of groups, after reporting that at the end of August, malaria cases were reported in 16 of the 24 states of the country.
Figures presented this Tuesday, show an increase of 2 thousand people affected per week, on average. More than 80% are diagnosed in the State Bolivar, specifically in the municipality of Sifontes. It is from there that the disease has spread not only to the rest of the country but also to Brazil.
Once more, the researchers stated that Venezuela is the only country of the region where Malaria – pathology that had been eradicated in 1961- does not decline.
Oletta stated that the country is facing an emergency of national and international public health and wondered how to face it without drugs, mosquito nets or repellents. “We urgently need external donations, as well as the advice from national and international institutions”, said the former minister, who warned: if immediate measures are not taken, the number of deaths from malaria could reach half a million people.
The organizations grouped in the alliance insisted on the need for the Venezuelan State to provide the necessary epidemiological information to address the crisis. “They cannot keep hiding the figures”.
Carlos Walter, also former Minister of Health, announced that it was agreed to send a warning letter to all the Ministers of Health in the region to warn them about the severe situation in Venezuela.
Ana Carvajal, president of the Venezuelan Society of Infectious Diseases, said that in accordance with unofficial sources there have been 36 deaths from malaria.