A new Amnesty International report has sounded the alarm about the hardship health workers suffer from around the world, from infection with the Coruna virus and the outrageous stigmatization of them, and the stigmatization of the infection, and because of their violence due to their work.
An analysis of the organization revealed that more than 3 thousand health workers have died as a result of infection with the virus around the world, including 111 in Egypt.
The organization said it had documented cases of health workers who had expressed concerns about their safety in the context of fighting the Covid-19 virus, and that they had been subjected to various reprisals, from arrest and detention to threats and dismissal.
In 31 of the countries surveyed by Amnesty International, WHO researchers recorded reports of strikes, strike threats, or demonstrations by health and basic workers, in protest against unsafe working conditions. Such acts were met with reprisals by the authorities in many countries.
In Egypt, for example, Amnesty International has documented the cases of 9 health-care workers arbitrarily arrested by the authorities between March and June, on vague or overly charges such as "spreading false news" and "terrorism".
All of these detainees had expressed their safety concerns, or had criticized the government's approach to dealing with the pandemic.
An Egyptian doctor told Amnesty International that doctors who publicly express their criticism are under threat and subject to investigation by the national security sector, administrative interrogation, and sanctions.
He added that "many doctors prefer purchasing personal protective equipment from their own pocket to relieve themselves of hardship and hardship," and that the authorities "force doctors to choose between death and imprisonment."
The organization has documented many cases where primary and health workers have been immunized and stigmatized as carriers of infection, or have been subjected to violence because of their work.
In Mexico, a nurse was poured chlorine while walking on the street, and in the Philippines some people assaulted a hospital utility worker by pouring bleach solution on his face.
In Pakistan, Amnesty International has monitored many cases of violence against health workers since last April, hospitals have been vandalized, doctors have been assaulted, and one has been shot by a member of the Counter-Terrorism Force.
According to the organization, all of these incidents indicate a climate of misinformation and outrage, and underline the importance of the role that governments should play in providing accurate information about the spread of the Covid-19 virus, and publicizing it.