More than 80 organizations have come together to mobilize in defense of public health. In a day called "hug the Ministry of Health", they have requested an urgent meeting and aim to unify the conflicts facing the health system as a whole.
"Now, it's time to mobilize for health. That's why we must defend public health with a large popular mobilization," stated Lipcovich, a resident of the National Hospital Laura Bonaparte specialized in Mental Health. The central activity of this initiative will be a march from the Ministry of Health to Plaza de Mayo on February 27th.
There is concern about the dismantling of important areas of the Ministry of Health, such as the departments of Control of Vaccine-preventable Diseases, Vaccination, and Response to HIV, STIs, Viral Hepatitis, and Tuberculosis, which leaves workers and the general population in a vulnerable situation.
There is emphasis on the intention to close health institutions, such as Hospital Bonaparte, as well as layoffs in other hospitals. According to Lipcovich, all this aims to eliminate the state's responsibility in health services, following a path similar to that sought by the military dictatorship in the past.
The call has been organized in response to these alarming measures and in favor of public health. As part of this mobilization, actions will take place both at the national level and in numerous provinces, with the goal of stopping layoffs and the deterioration of the health system that affects both workers and users equally.
