The public and private health sector in Mexico has the capacity to respond to the demand for care, as a consequence of the earthquake of 7.1 on the Richter scale, which occurred on September 19, said the Minister of Health, Dr. Jose Narro Robles.

At a press conference to publicize the details of the actions for this natural disaster, the Minister of Health was accompanied by the directors of the Mexican institutes of Social Security (IMSS), Mikel Arriola, and Social Security and Social Services of State Workers (ISSSTE), José Reyes Baeza, as well as the executive director of the Public Health Services of Mexico City, Francisco Osuna Sanchez, and the deputy director of the Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) Medical Service, Marco Antonio Navarrete Prida.

Narro Robles said that under instructions from the President of the Republic, Enrique Peña Nieto, the medical units of the public health sector care for anyone requesting emergency medical service as a result of the earthquake.

He reported that 1,818 people have been treated, 80 of them in units of the Ministry of Health, 447 in IMSS, 364 in ISSSTE, 881 in the Health Services of Mexico City and 17 in PEMEX.

In addition, there are about 700 emergency beds, 1,915 of hospitalization, 243 of intensive care and more than 200 operating rooms, to continue providing care to the population that requires it.

Referring to the population affected by the September 7 earthquake that affected mainly the states of Chiapas and Oaxaca, the Minister of Health pointed out that the guard will not be lowered in the development of all the actions that have been carried out, as it has indicated the President Enrique Peña Nieto.

In his participation, Mexico´s undersecretary of Health Prevention and Promotion, Dr. Pablo Kuri Morales, emphasized that there are also actions to protect against health risks and epidemiological surveillance, in particular regarding the proper use of medicines, basic sanitation in food, water and shelters, and distribution of inputs.

About the infrastructure damaged by the earthquake, he detailed that the General Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González located at the south of the city, presents some damages and partially operates, in the General Hospital of Mexico there were damages in the area of pediatrics, reason why they were relocated 20 patients at the hospital.

In addition, the IMSS authorized the 01 800 623 2323 to provide information on the people served and the location of the clinics and hospitals where they are located, as well as the cell number 044 55 4494 1597, to send and receive messages via WhatsApp, with this same purpose.

Finally, the Minister of Health stressed that even when we have faced two natural disasters, the solidarity and integrity of Mexican society has prevailed, "which is enough for us to get ahead."

He thanked all the workers of the Mexico´s National Health System, for not lowering their guard to respond to the demand of those who suffered damage to their health because of this.

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