WHAT WE DO
THE CHALLENGE
More than 30% of doctors have left the country since 2014. Hospitals struggle to afford basic equipment, medicine or even access to clean water. In the country, almost 8 out of 10 Venezuelans don’t have continuous access to safe drinking water or basic sanitation, which further burdens health services. Sadly, the vicious cycle doesn’t end there.
Economic crisis has shattered the foundations of public health in Venezuela
Malnutrition adds further strain. A healthy food basket costs a family of four $500 a month, well above the average wage of $175. As a result, the UN estimates that 1 in 3 families are “food insecure” and 26% of children malnourished. They now suffer the consequences through long-term damage to muscle, cardio-respiratory, and gastrointestinal functions, weakened immune systems, poor brain development, and psychosocial disorders.
OUR APPROACH
Healing Venezuela tackles the health crisis in Venezuela through three key programmes, focusing on healthcare access, clean water, and food security for vulnerable populations.
Our Programmes
HEALTH
Scholarships for Junior Doctors: In Venezuela, 30% of senior doctors have left the country due to the crisis, leaving junior doctors at the forefront of medical care in state hospitals. With the vast majority of Venezuelans living below the poverty line, very few can afford private medical care. Since 2018, we have sponsored 400 junior doctors, helping them reach their goals and simultaneously enabling them to treat over 1.5 million patients.
Hospitals Improvement: Hospitals and primary care services are working at just 20% of their capacity due to a lack of maintenance and infrastructure investment. This is why since 2017, we have donated or repaired crucial medical equipment and refurbished hospitals’ critical areas, directly improving the care for more than 200,000 patients.
Reproductive Health: Poverty perpetuates a cycle of unwanted pregnancies, increased infant and maternal mortality, and domestic violence. Since 2018, more than 3,000 women have benefited from our reproductive health program, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health.
Point of Care Ultrasounds: In a country where 80% of the state’s health infrastructure is not functioning, new technologies are offering hope to those in need of free medical care. A prompt diagnosis can save a life, which is why we have donated portable ultrasounds to hospitals and trained senior doctors in this innovative technology.
Some of the hospitals that we work with are:
Hospital Vargas (Caracas)
Maternidad Concepción Palacios (Caracas)
JM de los Ríos (Caracas)
Hospital Universidad de Los Andes (Mérida State)
Hospital Clínico Universitario (Caracas)
Hospital Luis Ortega (Nueva Esparta State)
Hospital Luis Razetti (Anzoategui State)
“It helps cover my expenses, such as food and transportation, which makes it easier to go to work. That reduces the stress and worry, and I can focus on my patients”.
“I use these devices every day and it's fantastic that my colleagues back in Venezuela will be able to use them too as they can be literally life-saving”.
WATER
The lack of clean water is made all the more tragic by the fact that Venezuela ranks in the top 15 countries with renewable water resources. Since 2018, we have donated and installed six water sanitation plants in large hospitals in Caracas. As a result, more than 50,000 people can access safe drinking water every year, and crucial medical procedures have become safer.
“Since we received the water treatment plant, our patients, relatives and staff have drinking water. This has significantly decreased the incidence of sepsis in the pre-discharge area. We no longer have newborn babies getting infections due to contaminated water."
FOOD SECURITY
In Venezuela, malnutrition in children has reached an alarming 26%. Since 2018, Healing Venezuela has been providing two meals and a healthy snack a day for children at risk of malnutrition in impoverished areas of Caracas and Sucre State. More than 300 children and their families have benefited from this programme.
“ I would like to thank everyone who put their heart into this program as many children are benefiting. My one-year-old daughter is one of them and thanks to Healing Venezuela her health has improved dramatically.”
SUSTAINABILITY
To guarantee that the children of Guaraunos continue to thrive, we are starting a new initiative to provide a sustainable source of food. The programme provides women in Guaraunos a starting kit with chicks, food and medicines plus training for them to grow backyard poultry farms. As their businesses progress, the women will contribute back to the food programme with the products they generate, ensuring in the longer term the health of the most vulnerable children of the community.
“I’m thrilled, very happy because today I received the chicks for my poultry farm. Thank you so much, Healing Venezuela!”
EVERY DONATION HELPS
If you’d like to join us in our mission to improve healthcare in Venezuela, please consider making a donation through the following link:
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