WHAT WE DO
“ The Highest Standard of Health is a Fundamental Human Right of Every Human Being. “
World Health Organization
THE CHALLENGE
More than 50% 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
We work through our various programmes to develop long-term sustainable solutions to tackle some of the worst health-related problems facing Venezuelans. Directly and alongside our partners, we regularly monitor the results and adapt our programmes to ensure real change for those most in need.
Our Programmes
Supporting Junior Doctors
Due to the exodus of senior doctors, state hospitals, where 87% of impoverished Venezuelans get their healthcare, have become heavily reliant on junior doctors. Training and retention, however, remains a tremendous challenge. Each doctor sees upwards of 100 patients a month, but with a salary between $50 to $70 a month struggles to afford even basic food and essentials for themselves. This is why, since 2018, Healing Venezuela has been sponsoring junior doctors with a monthly allowance on the condition that they stay in the country for two years.
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”.
Food Security
Since 2019, Healing Venezuela, in partnership with the community, has been providing two healthy cooked meals and a healthy snack a day for 100 children in the remote village of Guaraunos in the state of Sucre. The aim of this programme is to eradicate malnutrition in the village, improve children’s health and encourage school attendance. Continuous assessment of the programme has shown extremely positive results. Children’s health is now on the rise, school attendance has soared, and the community is on the road to food self-sustainability. Help us support more children.
“ 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.”
Clean Water & Sanitation
The lack of clean water is made all the more tragic by the fact that Venezuela actually ranks in the top 15 countries with renewable water resources. That’s why Healing Venezuela decided to act. Since 2018, we have donated and installed six water sanitation plants in hospitals. As a result, more than 50,000 people can access safe drinking water every year, and crucial medical procedures have become safer. Babies no longer suffer from waterborne infections, and both staff and visitors can have access to drinking water. Help us deliver more clean water.
“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."
Hospital Improvements
We provide vital support to severely underinvested hospitals helping the most vulnerable to receive life-saving medical treatment. With our partners inside Venezuela and outside, we source badly needed medical equipment and provide facility maintenance and management. This programme has transformed the work of the hospitals we support. Your donations mean we can help many more.
Portable Ultrasound
A prompt diagnosis can save a life, which is why, as part of our mission to provide the best possible medical care to those in need, we have donated three portable ultrasound devices to the Razetti School of Internal Medicine in Venezuela. With the support of New York University’s medical school and one of their fellows, Dr. Kate Chebly, our ambassador in Venezuela, we have been training 20 doctors to perform on-the-spot ultrasounds
“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”.
Sustainable Communities
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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