The production of more than 51,900 vials of sodium hypochlorite, as the first containment barrier to be used in handwashing and surface cleaning, is among the main actions of Las Tunas in the face of the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, causing infectious disease COVID-19.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Mayrelis Hechavarría Pérez, the main specialist of the Production Center of Natural and Traditional Medicine, belonging to the Pharmacies and Optics Company, told the Cuban News Agency that the entity has been involved in the production of the product, alternating with the elaboration of anti-catarrhal syrups, for which it has needed to restructure schedules and receive support from personnel from other areas of the entity.
Hechavarría Pérez pointed out that although the first indication corresponded to the preparation of hypochlorite at 0.01 and 0.05 percent, for hand washing and disinfection of surfaces such as the floor, doors, tables and others, respectively, the preparation was immediately established at 0.1 and 0.5 percent, considering how resistant SARS-CoV-2 is.
In addition, the same production center allows the sale of up to 100 liters of the product for the agencies, a strategy that enables greater organization and distribution of the resource, while ensuring that one of the main preventive measures is complied with.
With the marked purpose of supplying the pharmacy network, alternatives are sought to achieve a stable distribution, despite the fuel limitations that have affected the country since the last four months of 2019, due to the intensification of the economic, commercial and financial blockade of United States against Cuba.
In this sense, María del Carmen Ochoa Rojas, general director of the company, stated that in the municipality of Las Tunas, production has also been organized in three dispensaries, recognized as small centers that make the preparation and are located in key points such as the Dr. Ernesto Guevera de la Serna General Teaching Hospital, the Mártires de Las Tunas Pediatric Hospital and La Central pharmacy, located in the heart of the city. She explained that the preparation for the pharmacy network will continue to intensify, while it is foreseen that a liter of chlorine will be distributed to each family nucleus through the Domestic Trade network.
The Cuban News Agency confirmed the sale of hypochlorite in rural communities such as Calixto, El Cornito and Bartle, confirming that up to there the supply and responsible purchase by the population has spread effectively, as well as constant communication with the superior authorities that guarantee that the disinfecting solution is supplied.
When 40 positive cases of COVID-19 have already been confirmed in Cuba, one of them belonging to the municipality of “Jesús Menéndez”, in this eastern Cuban province; Las Tunas intensify actions to face the spread of this pandemic, already present in some 164 countries, of which 31 nations and 11 overseas territories correspond to America.
