There are silences that society cannot acknowledge, facts that cannot be ignored and that directly affect life, an inalienable right.

The cases of COVID-19 that are detected in the country go almost unnoticed. Even the citizens themselves prefer to ignore them until an acquaintance or a family member suffers from effects other than the flu.

At the beginning of December, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) registered 1,659 cases of COVID-19 throughout the country, in four epidemiological weeks. This is not counting under-reporting, people who prefer to think it’s the flu without consequences.

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Medical services are talking about respiratory symptoms that are not serious. However, there are more and more cases of ‘long COVID’, patients who keep the virus active in the body for months after a positive test and, although they are not contagious, have consequences for their health, from elevated blood pressure, persistent cough, elevated glucose indices and even tachycardia.

The Ministry of Health holds vaccinations against influenza and COVID-19. Despite the low demand, there is no campaign encouraging the population to take prevention measures. The use of masks is almost non-existent.

The new updated COVID vaccine would arrive in Ecuador in January 2024

Neither vaccination nor adherence to prevention measures is an obligation. It becomes a matter of respect for yourself and your loved ones. It is advisable to at least discuss the topic so that silence does not contribute to life-threatening ignorance.

One should not remain silent in the face of a crime wave, nor in the face of cases of corruption, domestic violence, discrimination or neglect in various areas where the state must be present by constitutional obligation.

It is important that the voice of citizens is heard, with respect and dignity. Also that citizens use care channels and prevention services in all ways. Demanding and satisfying go hand in hand for prosperity and physical and mental health. (OR)