(Photo : Reuters)

The Institute of Respiratory Diseases serves the largest number of HIV/AIDS infected individuals, which has been known as one of the institutional causes of death of people within 18 to 45 years old.

On the other hand, Centro de Investigacion en Enfermedades Infecciosas or CIENI, works as a department of INER in Mexico and also looks after patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, CIENI has cancelled the sampling and hospitalization of those affected by HIV/AIDS.

As a result, patients diagnosed or suspected of having the infection have to wait until June since the CIENI currently prioritizes individuals infected by the coronavirus.

The health sector faces a high degree of demand generated by the virus that has dominated the world. Such focus has prevented the necessary medical attention from being given to other patients. On March 24, Hugo, Lopez-Gatell, Undersecretary of Prevention and Promotion of Health,  announced the country still does not have enough medical personnel to attend to those infected by COVID-19. 

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Recruitment for Additional Medical Personnel

Due to lack of manpower, the health care sector is currently recruiting for additional medical personnel. As of now, they were able to recruit over 1200 to help cover the health services of the recently created Institute and Decentralized Body of the Ministry of Health. 

As for the Institute of Respiratory Diseases, the staff has confirmed that their ability to provide medical care is affected. As of the moment they are requesting other health centers to open their referral so the patient's INER cannot accommodate can still be serviced by other health centers. 

The Spanish Society of Immunology, SEI, explained that there are no current indications to confirm that having HIV or AIDS exposes an individual to being at a higher risk to COVID-19. The statement from SEI was provided in response to the incidence indicating that the coronavirus could worsen on patients diagnosed with HIV or AIDS. 

The SEI Recommendation

The SEI recommends proper hygiene, frequent hand washing, use of tissue when sneezing or coughing, and social distancing to avoid contracting the coronavirus. They also recommend the use of alcohol with at least 60 percent disinfectant.

They also advised the public to refrain using somebody else's belongings and staying at home as a measure to prevent the spread of the disease. 

Since the COVID-19 usually attacks those with weak immune systems, the institute advises the general public to eat healthy foods and take supplements that will help boost their immune system. 

They do not recommend the use of face masks, consumption of tobacco, and traveling for the time being. In the event an individual is suspected to be infected by the virus, SEI said that the population must follow the instructions provided by their respective health authorities. 

As of March 30, there are 993 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mexico. 20 of which have resulted in death while 35 are under recovery.