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Ivermectin and a possible public health policy

Rodrigo Ayala Bluske

8/26/2020 05:00

What prevents Bolivia from developing a public health policy based on the massive use of Ivermectin for the prevention and treatment of Covid -19? If we look with some attention to the evolution of field work (at least in the areas to which we have some kind of access), really the only possible explanation is that of the extreme cumbersomeness of the organisms in charge of public health in our country. country.

In just two or three months the use of Ivermectin has become widespread in our territory despite the fact that there has been no central entity that systematically promotes its use and despite the fact that no effort has been made to unify the different protocols That for this they have been developed both in local experiences and in those carried out in other countries. What is the reason for it? In our opinion, plain and simple that the field experiences have been largely successful and that, despite the existing obstacles and gaps, the evidence has prevailed. Word of mouth in this case has been essential and we believe that it has saved more lives than many of the current official policies.

Herland Vaca Diez is the doctor from Santa Cruz, an expert in intensive therapy, who had the merit at the beginning of the pandemic of promoting the use of Ivermectin. Then there were experiences such as those of the San Rafaela clinic in Santa Cruz, that of the Angeles against Covid group and of health systems such as Montero, which have corroborated not only the effectiveness of its use in treatments, but also as prophylaxis.

In the words of a Peruvian doctor, Ivermectin in this last area is a kind of "bulletproof vest", that is to say that it does not prevent the shot (as a vaccine would surely do), but rather absorbs its impact.

That is to say that this medicine used in a preventive way, if it does not prevent contagion, at least it greatly reduces the viral load with which it is produced. And it must be added that the aforementioned local experiences are being corroborated by others (better systematized, by the way) that are being carried out in countries such as Argentina and Chile (in these countries they are beginning to speak of the "vaccine effect" of Ivermectin).

The attitude of the Ministry of Health on the subject, at least has been erratic. In a first statement issued on May 8, Agemed decided to ban it for use against Covid 19.

However, days later, on May 12, the then Minister of Health Marcelo Navajas, announced the authorization for its use under "medical protocol and informed consent." What was it that made the authority's decision change in such a short time? Any kind of analysis or inquiry made? None of that, but rather the decision publicly announced the day before by the mayor of Santa Cruz Angélica Sosa (advised by Dr. Vaca Diez), to massively purchase Ivermectin for the "parasite prevention treatment."

It may be difficult to decide whether the situation described is better suited to tragedy or comedy; Our health system is so weak and rudimentary, and has so little moral authority, that it was enough, virtuously in this case, that the aforementioned mayor decided to publicly avoid a resolution of the competent authority and circumvent it in the eyes of public opinion, so that an official policy will be rectified.

The waters have flowed intensely since May and yet the authorities still do not have a clear position on Ivermectin. Although its use has become widespread, although all the observational reports speak of excellent results, no one at the central levels, that we know of, nor has ordered a serious systematization in this regard and less has been interested in the design of a public policy that has the Ivermectin as the axis.

It is a drug that, to its effectiveness, adds the quality of being cheap. On the other hand, as some of its manufacturers have mentioned, in the country there is the installed capacity to supply the entire population immediately (due to the fact that the eastern cattle herd has been supplied for years).

Surely in the immediate future the axis of our policies on the subject will be centered on an accessible and effective vaccine. However, until this situation is materialized, we have no doubt that the adoption of the use of Ivermectin as a massive drug in prophylaxis and treatments will save countless lives in the country.

Today, this absence testifies to a weak and erratic healthcare system.

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Ivermectin and a possible public health policy

Rodrigo Ayala Bluske

8/26/2020 05:00

What prevents Bolivia from developing a public health policy based on the massive use of Ivermectin for the prevention and treatment of Covid -19? If we look with some attention to the evolution of field work (at least in the areas to which we have some kind of access), really the only possible explanation is that of the extreme cumbersomeness of the organisms in charge of public health in our country. country.

In just two or three months the use of Ivermectin has become widespread in our territory despite the fact that there has been no central entity that systematically promotes its use and despite the fact that no effort has been made to unify the different protocols That for this they have been developed both in local experiences and in those carried out in other countries. What is the reason for it? In our opinion, plain and simple that the field experiences have been largely successful and that, despite the existing obstacles and gaps, the evidence has prevailed. Word of mouth in this case has been essential and we believe that it has saved more lives than many of the current official policies.

Herland Vaca Diez is the doctor from Santa Cruz, an expert in intensive therapy, who had the merit at the beginning of the pandemic of promoting the use of Ivermectin. Then there were experiences such as those of the San Rafaela clinic in Santa Cruz, that of the Angeles against Covid group and of health systems such as Montero, which have corroborated not only the effectiveness of its use in treatments, but also as prophylaxis.

In the words of a Peruvian doctor, Ivermectin in this last area is a kind of "bulletproof vest", that is to say that it does not prevent the shot (as a vaccine would surely do), but rather absorbs its impact.

That is to say that this medicine used in a preventive way, if it does not prevent contagion, at least it greatly reduces the viral load with which it is produced. And it must be added that the aforementioned local experiences are being corroborated by others (better systematized, by the way) that are being carried out in countries such as Argentina and Chile (in these countries they are beginning to speak of the "vaccine effect" of Ivermectin).

The attitude of the Ministry of Health on the subject, at least has been erratic. In a first statement issued on May 8, Agemed decided to ban it for use against Covid 19.

However, days later, on May 12, the then Minister of Health Marcelo Navajas, announced the authorization for its use under "medical protocol and informed consent." What was it that made the authority's decision change in such a short time? Any kind of analysis or inquiry made? None of that, but rather the decision publicly announced the day before by the mayor of Santa Cruz Angélica Sosa (advised by Dr. Vaca Diez), to massively purchase Ivermectin for the "parasite prevention treatment."

It may be difficult to decide whether the situation described is better suited to tragedy or comedy; Our health system is so weak and rudimentary, and has so little moral authority, that it was enough, virtuously in this case, that the aforementioned mayor decided to publicly avoid a resolution of the competent authority and circumvent it in the eyes of public opinion, so that an official policy will be rectified.

The waters have flowed intensely since May and yet the authorities still do not have a clear position on Ivermectin. Although its use has become widespread, although all the observational reports speak of excellent results, no one at the central levels, that we know of, nor has ordered a serious systematization in this regard and less has been interested in the design of a public policy that has the Ivermectin as the axis.

It is a drug that, to its effectiveness, adds the quality of being cheap. On the other hand, as some of its manufacturers have mentioned, in the country there is the installed capacity to supply the entire population immediately (due to the fact that the eastern cattle herd has been supplied for years).

Surely in the immediate future the axis of our policies on the subject will be centered on an accessible and effective vaccine. However, until this situation is materialized, we have no doubt that the adoption of the use of Ivermectin as a massive drug in prophylaxis and treatments will save countless lives in the country.

Today, this absence testifies to a weak and erratic healthcare system.

permalink

Using Google Translate, pasting in the url, and selecting Spanish to English:

https://translate.google.com

PRINT EDITION

Ivermectin and a possible public health policy

Rodrigo Ayala Bluske

8/26/2020 05:00

What prevents Bolivia from developing a public health policy based on the massive use of Ivermectin for the prevention and treatment of Covid -19? If we look with some attention to the evolution of field work (at least in the areas to which we have some kind of access), really the only possible explanation is that of the extreme cumbersomeness of the organisms in charge of public health in our country. country.

In just two or three months the use of Ivermectin has become widespread in our territory despite the fact that there has been no central entity that systematically promotes its use and despite the fact that no effort has been made to unify the different protocols That for this they have been developed both in local experiences and in those carried out in other countries. What is the reason for it? In our opinion, plain and simple that the field experiences have been largely successful and that, despite the existing obstacles and gaps, the evidence has prevailed. Word of mouth in this case has been essential and we believe that it has saved more lives than many of the current official policies.

Herland Vaca Diez is the doctor from Santa Cruz, an expert in intensive therapy, who had the merit at the beginning of the pandemic of promoting the use of Ivermectin. Then there were experiences such as those of the San Rafaela clinic in Santa Cruz, that of the Angeles against Covid group and of health systems such as Montero, which have corroborated not only the effectiveness of its use in treatments, but also as prophylaxis.

In the words of a Peruvian doctor, Ivermectin in this last area is a kind of "bulletproof vest", that is to say that it does not prevent the shot (as a vaccine would surely do), but rather absorbs its impact.

That is to say that this medicine used in a preventive way, if it does not prevent contagion, at least it greatly reduces the viral load with which it is produced. And it must be added that the aforementioned local experiences are being corroborated by others (better systematized, by the way) that are being carried out in countries such as Argentina and Chile (in these countries they are beginning to speak of the "vaccine effect" of Ivermectin).

The attitude of the Ministry of Health on the subject, at least has been erratic. In a first statement issued on May 8, Agemed decided to ban it for use against Covid 19.

However, days later, on May 12, the then Minister of Health Marcelo Navajas, announced the authorization for its use under "medical protocol and informed consent." What was it that made the authority's decision change in such a short time? Any kind of analysis or inquiry made? None of that, but rather the decision publicly announced the day before by the mayor of Santa Cruz Angélica Sosa (advised by Dr. Vaca Diez), to massively purchase Ivermectin for the "parasite prevention treatment."

It may be difficult to decide whether the situation described is better suited to tragedy or comedy; Our health system is so weak and rudimentary, and has so little moral authority, that it was enough, virtuously in this case, that the aforementioned mayor decided to publicly avoid a resolution of the competent authority and circumvent it in the eyes of public opinion, so that an official policy will be rectified.

The waters have flowed intensely since May and yet the authorities still do not have a clear position on Ivermectin. Although its use has become widespread, although all the observational reports speak of excellent results, no one at the central levels, that we know of, nor has ordered a serious systematization in this regard and less has been interested in the design of a public policy that has the Ivermectin as the axis.

It is a drug that, to its effectiveness, adds the quality of being cheap. On the other hand, as some of its manufacturers have mentioned, in the country there is the installed capacity to supply the entire population immediately (due to the fact that the eastern cattle herd has been supplied for years).

Surely in the immediate future the axis of our policies on the subject will be centered on an accessible and effective vaccine. However, until this situation is materialized, we have no doubt that the adoption of the use of Ivermectin as a massive drug in prophylaxis and treatments will save countless lives in the country.

Today, this absence testifies to a weak and erratic healthcare system.

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