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Venezuelans use field hospitals amid public health system failures
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Health & Science

Venezuelans use field hospitals amid public health system failures

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Venezuelans are using international field hospitals set up after recent earthquakes due to deficiencies in the public health system.
  • Patients report that public hospitals lack basic supplies like medicine and syringes, forcing them to bring their own.
  • International aid, including medical teams from Japan and El Salvador, arrived days after the earthquakes, while the Venezuelan government's response was delayed.

In Caraballeda, Venezuela, Ramón Gutiérrez, 71, waits outside a Japanese field hospital, a temporary medical facility established after recent magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes. Like many Venezuelans, he seeks care here because of the ongoing deficiencies in the nation's public health network. "Without the tragedy, hospitals already lacked medicine; now, even less so," Gutiérrez told EFE, explaining that patients must supply their own bandages or syringes for public facilities.

Without the tragedy, hospitals already lacked medicine; now, even less so.

— Ramón GutiérrezA 71-year-old Venezuelan patient explaining the dire state of public healthcare.

He added, "We are taking advantage because there have never been supplies in the government hospitals." The Japanese hospital, staffed by 40 medical professionals including trauma, anesthesia, pediatrics, and infectious disease specialists, operates six hours daily. It is equipped for blood and urine tests, X-rays, and ultrasounds. Gutiérrez noted that international aid, including teams from Spain and El Salvador, arrived before the Venezuelan government, which appeared only after three days.

We are taking advantage because there have never been supplies in the government hospitals.

— Ramón GutiérrezA 71-year-old Venezuelan patient explaining why he is seeking treatment at an international field hospital.

Nancy Gallardo, 73, also waits for treatment. She fell during the June 24 earthquakes while fleeing a false tsunami alarm. Already experiencing health issues, the fall worsened her condition, leaving her in pain all over. "The hospitals in my country are collapsed or have no medicine," she told EFE. "We have to take advantage of these people helping us."

The hospitals in my country are collapsed or have no medicine.

— Nancy GallardoA 73-year-old Venezuelan patient describing the lack of medical resources.

In Catia La Mar, another affected area, people seek medicine at El Salvador's field hospital. One man, struggling to maintain his heart condition treatment, waits under a tent for medication. Despite pharmacies being stocked, accessing medicines and medical supplies remains a challenge for many, especially seniors whose monthly pensions equate to about 17 U.S. cents.

We have to take advantage of these people helping us.

— Nancy GallardoA 73-year-old Venezuelan patient expressing gratitude for international medical aid.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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