No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaNicaragua doctors fired for criticizing government over COVID-19

Nicaragua doctors fired for criticizing government over COVID-19

At least eight doctors working for Nicaragua’s public health system were sacked on Tuesday for criticizing President Daniel Ortega’s government for a slow response to the coronavirus pandemic, medical professionals said.

Infectious disease specialist Carlos Quant, a member of Nicaragua’s independent Scientific Multidisciplinary Committee set up to respond to the crisis in the wake of government inaction, said the doctors had been fired for supporting his call for voluntary quarantine measures.

Quant told AFP the sackings were apparently “in retaliation for having taken a position contrary to the government’s policy of not recognizing” the seriousness of the pandemic.

More than 30 medical associations have backed calls for a voluntary quarantine in the Central American country.

The government has refused to order a quarantine on the grounds that it has the virus “under control.”

In contrast to restrictions in other Latin American countries, Nicaragua has been criticized for an almost complete absence of measures to contain the virus.

Ortega’s government has kept schools and offices open and maintained crowd-pulling events like the national soccer league.

The dismissals were condemned by the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH), which in a statement expressed “concern over the dismissal of several health professionals in the midst of the serious situation that Nicaragua is facing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Marianela Escoto, a doctor at Managua’s Lenin Fonseca hospital, said in a video published on social media that she had been sacked “because I have been one of the people who have raised their voices and called for what is fair.”

Medical associations have demanded that the government carry out widespread testing for the coronavirus and supply medical centers with protective equipment, and warned that the increase in COVID-19 cases “has caused a collapse in the public and private healthcare system.”

They questioned the government’s “unjust policy of secrecy” in the midst of the country’s “greatest health crisis.”

According to government figures, Nicaragua as of Tuesday has registered 1,464 infections, with 55 deaths since the country’s first case was confirmed on March 18.

However, the Citizen Observatory NGO, composed of doctors and community workers, said more than 5,000 people had been infected, with more than 1,000 deaths suspected from the coronavirus.

Trending Now

U.S. – Guatemala Security Pact Targets Crime and Helps Returning Migrants

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem signed a border security cooperation agreement with Guatemala on Thursday, which includes the use of drones and...

When Will Poás Volcano National Park Reopen? Here’s What We Know

Although Poás Volcano has entered a more stable phase and the alert level has been lowered to green, the national park will remain closed...

Hondurans March to Mark 2009 Coup as Election Battle Heats Up

Thousands of government supporters marched Saturday in the capital of Honduras to commemorate the anniversary of the 2009 coup that ousted then-leftist President Manuel...

Costa Rica Stars in Variety’s Top Ten Film Locations

Variety Magazine named our small piece of paradise a top filming destination in its latest featured article, “Ten Locations to Die For,” spotlighting our...

Costa Rica Moves Forward with Crypto Regulation to Combat Financial Crime

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly has advanced a landmark bill targeting the regulation of virtual asset service providers (VASPs), aiming to bolster the nation’s defenses...

An Expat’s Take: 5 Burning Questions About Life in Costa Rica Right Now

Have you been keeping up with the various events taking place in Costa Rica? There is always something interesting going down, and here are...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica