Specifically, Dr. Jerry Bitar, a surgeon, director of the Bernard Mevs Hospital was kidnapped on Friday at his home in the middle of a busy neighborhood in the Haitian capital, according to Reuters.
Many residents were informed that they had gathered outside the hospital to show their support to Dr. Bitar, who runs the hospital with his twin brother.
Meanwhile, the hospital’s medical staff chanted the call of the abductors to release the respected doctor. The Haitian media also called for the kidnappers to release Mr. Bitar.
"In the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, abducting a hospital’s doctor was truly unacceptable. We demanded that the doctor be released without any conditions," said Jean Wilguens Charles, a local resident with friends. Friends treated at the hospital said.
Medical assistant Claude Devil said the hospital usually treats everyone in Haiti, including those without money to pay for service charges, but because the hospital director is being abducted, they will not be able to accept it. adding new patients to focus on taking care of existing patients as best they can.
"There are some patients who are waiting for surgery but we cannot work without a doctor’s orders," Mr. Devil said.
Authorities are monitoring the case, a Ministry of Health spokesman said.
Bernard Mevs Hospital is an injury and intensive care center. The hospital does not treat cases of coronavirus infection, but may need to do so if Covid-19 disease spreads more strongly in Haiti - where health care services and medical infrastructure are assessed. is weak.
According to a 2019 study by the association for Health Care Research and Education in Haiti (REACH), the country has only 64 ventilators for a population of about 11 million. This makes Haiti particularly vulnerable if the Covid-19 epidemic continues to spread.
The Haitian government has so far confirmed 8 cases of corona virus infection. President Jovenel Moise last week declared a state of emergency, requiring schools, factories and churches to close to prevent the spread of the virus and Haiti also closed the border and imposed a curfew. for the people.
The kidnapping for ransom has risen sharply this year amid the political and economic crisis in Haiti - the World Bank country is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Police have confirmed 15 kidnappings in January alone. Gangs seem to indiscriminately kidnap victims, from students, lawmakers and businessmen to foreign aid workers.
