LA PAZ, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Bolivia's Ministry of Health will support the 2016 Dakar Rally with the deployment of 42 ambulances and 900 volunteers, local media reported on Thursday.
According to a statement issued by the ministry, the ambulances will be deployed along the race's route and will be staffed by doctors, nurses, drivers and epidemiology staffs, who will be monitoring to prevent any outbreak.
In the statement, Health Minister Ariana Campero states the health brigades will also provide specialist medical attention for foodborne diseases, acute diarrhea, and other problems. The health service of Potosi department will also be on hand to assist.?
Campero said that, as in the 2013 and 2014 editions, the Ministry will install medical attention camps. She also recommended that visitors attending the rally should use sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, coats and eat dry food.
The 2016 Dakar Rally will cross Bolivian territory from January 7 with the fifth stage starting from the Argentinean city of Jujuy to Uyuni in Bolivia.
The sixth stage, which will be the rally's longest at 542km, will start and end in Uyuni, while the seventh stage will go from Uyuni back to Argentina at the city of Salta.??