Bogota, April 2 (RHC)-- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced the donation of medical equipment to Colombia, in an effort to help stop COVID-19 from spreading in the South American nation and regionally. The announcement was made during Maduro’s meeting with the Council of State, held at the Miraflores Palace.
Despite Nicolas Maduro’s efforts to move aside political differences, Colombian President Ivan Duque declined the donation. Duque said he wouldn't reject the equipment but affirms that his administration will only accept it if it comes through the Pan-American Health Organization, PAHO.
Many users on social media have harshly criticized Duque’s decision, saying that the Colombian president should leave his differences with Venezuela behind to guarantee solutions to the health situation.
The Venezuelan president explained the only COVID-19 detection machine in Colombia is not functioning. Due to this circumstance, Venezuela will provide Colombia with two new machines to keep testing patients and clearing suspicious cases. The devices were formerly donated by China to Venezuela.
Colombia registered one of the highest number of COVID-19 cases in South America, with 906 positive cases and 16 victims so far. This situation could cause a sanitary crisis in the common border between Venezuela and Colombia. Maduro affirmed several times that cooperation between both nations is paramount to stop the virus spreading.
