Activists demand to intensify fight against epidemic in Dagestan

Despite the alarming coronavirus situation in Dagestan, an irresponsible attitude towards prophylactic measures is observed among ordinary residents and among state servants, Muslim Gasan-Guseinov, a member of the public headquarters, has stated. Doctors of the region should publicize the problems existing in medical institutions regarding the COVID-19 situation, said Ziyaudin Uvaisov, the head of the NGO "Patient's Monitor".

According to the "Stopcoronavirus.ru" website, as of May 15, Dagestan had 3192 coronavirus infection cases; 1490 patients had recovered; 27 persons had died.

Dagestani activists have noticed that policemen in Makhachkala work without personal protective means. In particular, Mr Gasan-Guseinov was outraged by the fact that patrol policemen create traffic jams when checking documents of hundreds of drivers. They take documents with their hands without gloves.

The regional medical facilities lack doctors and personal protective means. Activists have urged medics to make their hospital problems public. "If you can't do it openly, do it at least anonymously. They will respond to your cries for help only when they are heard by everyone, and officials feel their chair wobble under them," Mr Uvaisov wrote in his Facebook on May 13.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on May 16, 2020 at 03:31 am MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.