Spanish Medical Team Arrives in Venezuela to Set Up Emergency Hospital

A team of 44 Spanish health and logistics specialists has arrived in Venezuela to establish an emergency field hospital. The deployment is part of the Technical Team for Emergency Aid and Response (START), coordinated by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (Aecid).

The mission aims to provide medical assistance to those affected by a recent double earthquake that officially claimed 2,295 lives and injured 11,267. The Spanish team, comprising doctors, nurses, firefighters, and water purification experts, arrived as a contingent of firefighters from Málaga returned home after initial search and rescue efforts.

The field hospital will function as a self-sufficient, outpatient facility with its own power and water treatment systems. Given the time elapsed since the 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes, the medical personnel anticipate a shift in patient needs. The focus will be on treating complications from pre-existing chronic conditions that have gone untreated due to the collapse of local health services.

"We are still facing uncertainty, but I am expectant, I try to stay calm and think about what might happen and do the best we can," said nurse Silvia Moreno. She anticipates treating more chronic patients whose conditions have worsened due to lack of regular care. The deployment also includes psychosocial support units to address the psychological impact of the disaster.

Psychiatrist Ricardo Angora noted that an estimated 80% of survivors will experience psychological distress. "Some are more affected than others; some may be in shock, others find it difficult to maintain normal daily life, and others have the capacity to overcome it and cope with current needs," he explained. Angora emphasized the critical importance of addressing trauma in the early stages following such events.