Ascensión de Guarayos to seek police support to ensure leishmaniasis patients receive treatment

Authorities in Ascensión de Guarayos plan to bring public security forces to Río Chico and San Francisco after patients with leishmaniasis refused medical care and medication. The two areas have reported most of the municipality’s 36 cases as of Tuesday.

Acting Mayor Roberth Schok said a commission made up of health service personnel and public security officers would travel to the communities on Wednesday. Its first task will be to persuade reluctant patients to accept treatment. If that fails, officials may apply measures provided for under the law.

“This puts public health at risk because it can cause reinfection,” Schok said. The municipality has also opened an isolation center at the Olympic Village, two kilometers from Ascensión on the road to Santa Cruz, so patients can receive treatment there. No patient has agreed to remain at the facility so far.

Schok said the Ministry of Health is responsible for treating people with the disease, but the municipality is helping as far as it can. It has sent laboratory technicians to Santa Cruz for training. Leishmaniasis cases have also been reported in the Guarayos municipalities of El Puente and Urubichá, with one case in each.

“

This puts public health at risk because it can cause reinfection.