Centros de Salud en zonas de Cochabamba, Bolivia atienden a cinco pacientes al día con sintomatología de COVID-19 moderada.
The Sarcobamba Comprehensive Health Center, in the city of Cochabamba, Bolivia, applies remote care to detect possible cases of COVID-19 in the region and prevent further contagion.
Patients are followed up on their illness through telephone calls every two days. "Of the 20 swab samples we take, five are positive; that has to be multiplied by four, because there is a family environment, and if we multiply that, it increases exponentially. As they are not seriously ill, they are treated at home with the appropriate drugs," explains Juan Carlos Sanchez, coordinator of the COVID-19 vaccination.
Through telephone calls, patients receive information on which antibiotics to take in case the disease progresses and symptoms worsen. "According to the protocol handled from the Ministry of Health, they are given as antibiotics azithromycin, ibuprofen and also vitamins D, C and zinc. In some cases, four injections of dexamethasone, one per day," he explains.
Sanchez, explains that telemedicine care is only applied to patients with lower viral load and lower chances of severe SARS-CoV-2 disease. He explained that only critical patients are sent to the North and South hospitals.
On the other hand, Aníbal Cruz, Secretary of Health of the Mayor's Office, explained that in the next few days they will set up a call center specialized in outpatient preventive diagnostic consultations to deal with the third wave of infections in Bolivia.
