Africa-Press – Cape verde. Health authorities on Sal Island today rejected accusations from the PAICV party regarding an alleged “critical situation” in the sector, assuring the regular functioning of the Health Delegation and the Ramiro Figueira Regional Hospital.
The Health Delegate of Sal, Manuela Lima, and the president of the Board of Directors of the Ramiro Figueira Regional Hospital, Ivone Lizana, spoke at a press conference held today on Sal Island, in response to accusations made by the PAICV-Sal on January 31st, which pointed to “critical failures” at the Ramiro Figueira Regional Hospital and health centers.
In her intervention, the Health Delegate emphasized that the Sal Health Delegation plays a “central role” in the organization, coordination, and execution of public health policies on the island, ensuring “permanent epidemiological surveillance, structured primary health care, and a timely response” to any health event.
“This is the most touristic island in the country, with high population mobility and continuous growth in demand, which requires greater technical capacity, rigorous planning and stable operation of services, conditions that are ensured,” she stressed.
She guaranteed that there had been no vaccine shortages, stating that all children are vaccinated regularly.
In January alone, she added, approximately 700 children were vaccinated, including newborns at the Ramiro Figueira Hospital, through daily visits by the Delegation’s teams.
The official also highlighted the continuous operation of reproductive health services, with no disruptions in contraceptive methods in the last year, the regular monitoring of chronic patients in all health centers, and the absence of salary arrears among the Delegation’s professionals, ensuring the stability of the teams.
In terms of healthcare, she explained that consultations for chronically ill patients take place daily at the Espargos and Palmeira centers, three times a week in Santa Maria, and monthly in Pedra de Lume, according to technical criteria and demand.
She also announced that the radiology equipment at the Santa Maria Health Center will undergo maintenance this month.
Regarding infrastructure, she informed that the Palmeira Health Center is in the final stages of preparation for its formal inauguration, while medical and nursing consultations continue to operate normally from Monday to Friday.
In turn, the president of the Board of Directors of the Ramiro Figueira Regional Hospital considered that the statements made by the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV) in Sal are based on a “biased, decontextualized, and irresponsible” reading of the hospital reality, ignoring the technical and regulatory framework applicable to regional hospitals.
Ivone Lizana stated that the unit has a multidisciplinary clinical staff, integrating pediatrics, gynecology-obstetrics, surgery, ophthalmology, and specialists in general and family medicine, some with training in pediatrics and intensive care, ensuring an integrated and technically qualified approach to the patient.
“In the area of human resources, the nursing team was reinforced through the regularization of the contractual status of seven more nurses previously in precarious employment situations, allowing for greater organizational stability and continuity of care,” she assured.
The same source continued, noting the return of a nurse who was on unpaid leave, with the integration of another professional to be appointed by the Ministry of Health planned.
Regarding any constraints in the supply of inputs, she clarified that these are isolated situations associated with international supply chains, namely with respect to laboratory reagents and oxygen, which are dependent on imports, and do not constitute failures of the hospital or the system.
The PCA also assured that the hospital has a functional fire safety system, an internal evacuation plan, and hygiene and infection control protocols aligned with national standards.
The two officials reaffirmed the institutions’ commitment to protecting the health of the population of Sal, based on “technical rigor, continuity of care, and institutional responsibility,” remaining open to technically sound and scientifically oriented contributions.
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