During the weekly press conference on Monday, 23 October 2023, President Luis Abinader and Public Health Minister Daniel Rivera insisted they are not hiding dengue-caused deaths in the national health statistics. Official statistics account for around 12,000 cases and 11 persons officially declared dead from dengue, the seasonal virus. In 2022, there were about 11,000 infected and 42 deaths.
Media reports indicate that many cases are not getting tagged correctly. In a pre-electoral year, the buzz is picked up by those who want to criticize the Abinader administration.
Meanwhile, Public Health Minister Daniel Rivera says that the creation of the Dengue Cabinet under Vice President Raquel Peña is to stress the importance the Abinader government gives to tackling the seasonal disease. Climate change has resulted in an unusually hot and rainy year, fostering conditions to breed the mosquitos that spread dengue.
The Ministry of Public Health insists a collective effort is needed to prevent the breeding of the mosquitos. The Ministry reports that dengue is on its decline. But at the same time, the Ministry urges people to immediately seek medical attention and get tested for the disease so there is time for appropriate treatment.
During the weekly Monday press conference, President Abinader stressed the importance his government gives to the health sector. He said that in three years of his government, RD$2.3 billion have been invested to renovate and equip 31 public hospitals that are part of the National Health System (SNS).
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24 October 2023