Report courtesy of Informe Pastrán , May 12th 2020
Translation by Nan McCurdy
IMF Recognizes Nicaragua’s Measures to Fight Covid-19
The International Monetary Fund recognizes that Nicaragua is fighting COVID-19 and that it has adopted various measures to counteract it. It states that "confirmed cases have been treated in accordance with international protocols," such as those of the WHO and PAHO. “In response to the COVID-19, the government has implemented several measures, including the declaration of a national alert status, the implementation of Epidemiological Surveillance Protocols and the execution of strict health control measures at land, air and sea entry points in accordance with international protocols and a 14-day quarantine for nationals and foreigners returning from countries with large outbreaks."
It writes that "on January 30, the National Inter-Institutional Commission for the Early Detection, Care and Prevention of COVID-19 was created. A total of 19 hospitals have been officially designated throughout the country for the care of COVID-19 cases following detection.” "The Ministry of Health monitors and provides daily reports on the status of outbreaks in the country" and "doctors and relevant health personnel of the Ministry of Health have been trained on prevention, detection, containment and treatment of COVID-19 and exchanged experiences on these issues with international experts." "Education on COVID-19 prevention is also being provided at the national level and hotlines have been established for emergency calls and to respond to queries related to the virus, including preventive information."
"On April 27, the government launched a campaign to clean and disinfect schools, public transport units, markets and other public spaces. In addition, the Health Ministry is promoting a campaign of preventive measures that include proper hand washing, physical distancing, appropriate use of masks and care for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and chronic diseases," the multilateral agency stresses. "The government has continued to prioritize programs to strengthen the social safety net, including the provision of food packages for vulnerable families. 60,000 food packages were distributed in April," the IMF's country analysis indicates.
(Informe Pastran, 5/12/20)