Haiti - Epidemic : Humberto Salazar calls for the closure of the border
In Dominican Republic, the level of alert and surveillance by health authorities to prevent the penetration of cholera in the Dominican territory, was increased in the towns of Pedernales, Elías Piña, Dajabón and Indépendancia just before the reopening of the binational markets.
Lieutenant General Joaquin Virgilio Perez Feliz, from the Ministry of Army, said he had ordered the doubling of security in the border area to support the cordon set up by the Ministry of Health. Given the chaos that reigned on Friday Dajabon market, it seems that the means used were inadequate.
Dr. Bautista Rojas Gomez, Dominican Ministry of Health wished to clarify that if there were cases of cholera in the territory, the effects could be minimal, because the Dominicans, he says "are aware of preventive measures and more rigorous practice recommendations of the government".
An optimism that does not seem to share Humberto Salazar, the director of the Committee on Health Sector Reform (CERSS), which believes that the reopening of bilateral trade is like "open wide the door to the cholera epidemic". Therefore, he asked the authorities to reconsider their decision, saying the welfare of a group of traders and businessmen on the border, could not under any circumstances, be higner than the health of the population and Tourism, which is the backbone of the economy". "The Dominican authorities must exercise their sovereignty and the border should be closed until it has strict control of the cholera in Haiti."
