3 YEARS AFTER THE START OF THE PANDEMIC, EXPERTS HOLD DIFFERENT ATTITUDES ON THE NUMBER OF VICTIMS.
Albania’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic has divided health professionals. The first 2 cases discovered on March 9 were immediately isolated in the infectious hospital, which was named “Covid 1 Hospital” and the entire area was put under quarantine.
In 3 years, more than 12 thousand patients were treated.
The head of this service, Najada Çomo, tells EURONEWS Albania about the work done by the doctors.
“For us it was a new thing. There was fear, but there is a dominance that is the service you have to provide to the patients. The beginning was with a small number of patients but for us they seemed a lot … Months passed and we got used to the disease. I assure you that the medical staff did their best both medically and humanely.” said Najada Çomo, head of the infectious disease hospital.
Albania has 2.8 million inhabitants. Official data speak of nearly 334,000 infected and 3,600 victims in 3 years, but experts argue that the figures are several times higher.
“This is not true. Almost all of us have been infected at least 1 time. The death rate has been 5.4 times higher than what has been reported, leading to December 31, 2021 in about 17,500 deaths. Why did this happen? Everyone who died in non-COVID hospitals, in private hospitals, abroad, at home, or any other instance is not included in this calculation,” said Ilir Alimehmeti epidemiologist.
When the pandemic is coming to an end, experts analyze how it was managed:
“None of the elements offered at the given time were wrong. When you get into a war, you will make war decisions. Albania, unlike many other countries, has hospitalized all categories. We have not done any kind of selection. Would I have done anything differently as a member of the expert committee? I assure you not.” argued Najada Como, Head of the Infectious Diseases Hospital.
“Albania managed the pandemic in an orderly manner. I have a remark that many elements of politics were introduced. It had its own problems but all countries have their own characteristics.” said Kita Sallabanda Neurosurgeon in Madrid.
The experts are also divided in their judgments even when they talk about vaccination. The process started in January 2021, initially with medical professionals and the elderly, to extend to the entire population over the age of 16.
“They forced people who didn’t need to be vaccinated, if the problem was the elderly, the Albanian state forced the students.”, said Ilir Alimehmeti Epidemiologist.
Meanwhile, Najada Çomo, Head of the Infectious Disease Hospital argued that, “You will protect your family through the student, but above all you will protect from the student, you will protect the patients to whom he will do the teaching cycle. There are people who before closing their eyes said I wish I had been vaccinated.”
Over 2 million tests for covid have been carried out in 3 years. 17% of them were positive. Testing is only performed in private or public hospital services as the rapid test is not available in pharmacies.
