Peru's Justice and Human Rights Minister Ana Neyra on Friday affirmed that the Government's priority with the intervention in Arequipa region is to save people's lives and guarantee the distribution of medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers.
According to the government official, the Constitution provides that health is a shared responsibility between the national and regional governments.
In addition, there is a legal framework that allows the Executive Branch to intervene when a region cannot manage its resources and assets in the context of a health emergency, as has occurred
in Arequipa.
In this regard, Neyra clarified that this is an intervention in the said southern region, not an accompanying process, which will allow the Executive Branch to directly participate in the management of resources and health care.
"We are focused on addressing the emergency (…)," she said in remarks to RPP radio and TV station.
The minister noted that Zulema Tomas —an envoy of the Executive Branch in Arequipa— will give a detailed report of the situation as she found it so as to decide on measures to take.
Additionally, she mentioned that the delivery of PPE and medicines to the health personnel has been arranged.
On the other hand, the justice sector's head affirmed that the Government is committed to the political reform and welcomed the approval by Congress of gender equality and alternation in the lists of candidates running for popularly-elected posts starting with the 2021 process.
(END) FHG/RMB/MVB
Published: 7/24/2020