Today, the doctors went on strike. The way it is in Bolivia at the moment, doctors frequently split their time between public hospitals and their own private practices. However, the way I understand it, the government now requires doctors to spend 8 hours a day in the public sector which will effectively end physicians’ ability to see patients privately as well. So I didn’t get to work with my preceptor today, but I rounded with the infectious disease team anyhow. I’m very disturbed by the fact that there’s a girl with active TB in a regular room and people have been going in and out without face masks or gloves. I told the attending, who did admit that personal protective gear should be worn and reminded the team and nurses to do so.
In addition to the strike, political demonstrations happen daily. The current president is Evo Morales, the first indigenous elected leader (from an Aymara background) but many Bolivians appear to be unhappy with the changes made. For example, Morales started building a road last year through the Bolivian Amazon, but stopped construction due to protests from indigenous tribes because it would destroy the rainforest homeland. Three days ago, hundreds of protestors from the other side of the debate marched in La Paz, arguing for the completion of the road so as to bring economic development to the area. Thankfully these protests have been peaceful—no massive bloody rioting like the soccer game in Egypt. However, whereas before there was only continuous honking and whistle blowing for street noise, now there are rifle shots and firecrackers in the air.
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