Guna Culture Congress decides to ban the use of masks; Minsa dialogues with authorities of the region
The General Congress of Guna Culture issued a resolution in which it decides to prohibit the use of masks, both for residents, officials and visitors, who according to the document must respect the cultural traditions of this region.
The decision is made at a time when the Ministry of Health (Minsa) emphasizes complying with sanitary measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, one of them is to wear a mask. The entity has even issued decrees, which are in force, in which people are obliged to use the mask at the national level.
In the congress resolution that was issued on October 22, the Guna Cultural Congress also provides other actions such as abolishing the Covid-19 community health committees and lifting the quarantine throughout the county territory.
Regarding this situation, the director of the Metropolitan Health Region, Israel Cedeño, said that talks are being held with the authorities of the region to reach an understanding on the need for protection against the virus.
It is already being discussed in the upper office with the minister, the regional director and the authorities of the region, said Cedeño.
He argued that the region has the right to take its own guidelines, however they must be discussed with the health authorities.
Reminding the entire population, regardless of ethnicity, wearing a mask protects you against Covid. There is no prophylactic treatment, we do not have vaccines or treatment to prevent Covid; consequently, the use of a mask continues to be the first protection barrier, said Cedeño.
Within the considerations of the document, it is stated that the local Guna Yala authorities have felt that their decision-making authority has been violated by the Health committees created.
They are also supported by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms recognized in the United Nations Charter.
According to the latest Minsa report on national statistics on the virus, the Guna Yala region registers 889 accumulated cases since the pandemic arrived in the country.
For her part, Petita Ayarza, who is a deputy in the Guna Yala region, said that the authorities decided to rely on traditional medicine, as proposed by the Cultural Congress in its resolution.
In the congress resolution that was issued on October 22, the Guna Cultural Congress also provides other actions such as abolishing the Covid-19 community health committees and lifting the quarantine throughout the county territory.
Regarding this situation, the director of the Metropolitan Health Region, Israel Cedeño, said that talks are being held with the authorities of the region to reach an understanding on the need for protection against the virus.
It is already being discussed in the upper office with the minister, the regional director and the authorities of the region, said Cedeño.
He argued that the region has the right to take its own guidelines, however they must be discussed with the health authorities.
Reminding the entire population, regardless of ethnicity, wearing a mask protects you against Covid. There is no prophylactic treatment, we do not have vaccines or treatment to prevent Covid; consequently, the use of a mask continues to be the first protection barrier, said Cedeño.
Within the considerations of the document, it is stated that the local Guna Yala authorities have felt that their decision-making authority has been violated by the Health committees created.
They are also supported by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms recognized in the United Nations Charter.
According to the latest Minsa report on national statistics on the virus, the Guna Yala region registers 889 accumulated cases since the pandemic arrived in the country.
For her part, Petita Ayarza, who is a deputy in the Guna Yala region, said that the authorities decided to rely on traditional medicine, as proposed by the Cultural Congress in its resolution.