Five years after the arrival of COVID-19 in Mexico, many remember with pain the difficult moments they experienced during the pandemic. The experience of María de los Ángeles Piñón Solano is a clear example, as she still cries when recalling the loss of her husband, Javier Silverio, during the second wave of the disease in the country.
María sadly recounts how she still struggles to overcome the pain of her husband's absence, who passed away due to the virus. Her daughter, Susana Piñón, also relives with anguish the days they desperately sought a hospital bed to admit their father. Ultimately, Javier lost his life alone, leaving a deep sorrow in his family.
For María and her daughter, the impact of COVID-19 goes beyond emotional loss, as they have also faced physical and economic repercussions. María experiences lung problems due to the virus, which forces her to take extra care during certain times of the year. Additionally, the family business, a bakery founded by Javier, has yet to recover from the economic difficulties caused by the pandemic.
In the midst of sadness and consequences, Ariel Sosa, a survivor of severe COVID-19, also shares his painful experience. He recalls with sorrow the loneliness in which many people died during the health crisis. Ariel witnessed the death of individuals in the temporary hospital set up at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, which left him with a profound emotional mark.
The Director of the Pan American Health Organization, Jarbas Barbosa, emphasizes that the pandemic has left important lessons, such as the need to strengthen laboratory capacity and improve early detection of viruses like SARS-CoV-2. He also highlights the importance of ensuring equitable access to health technologies, such as vaccines and personal protective equipment, to address future pandemics.
Guillermo Torre, rector of the Tec Salud Institute, underscores the importance of improving the health system in Mexico, promoting a culture of prevention, and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors. Although five years have passed since the arrival of the virus in the country, the lessons learned during the pandemic continue to resonate in society and among those who closely experienced its impacts.
