A spirit of resilience helps Venezuelans face healthcare challenges after the quakes

Resilience Emerges as Venezuelans Navigate Healthcare Crisis Following Devastating Quakes

A spirit of resilience helps Venezuelans - When the initial tremor struck, Luz Noguera found herself mid-shower. The 36-year-old immediately seized her keys, pushed through the jammed door, and sprinted into the street amid growing alarm. Her primary concerns centered on her children and extended family—ensuring their immediate safety took precedence. Once their wellbeing was confirmed, survival instincts kicked in.

"We gathered on the main road and stayed there," she recalls. "It started to rain, the electricity went out and there was no cell service, no way to contact our families. We spent the whole night in the street."

Remarkably, her asthma medication remained untouched—still resting in a bag atop her nightstand. This seemingly minor detail would later prove significant as displaced residents faced mounting health complications without access to essential prescriptions.

The Human Toll Mounts

The seismic events of June 24 have painted a harrowing picture of destruction. Official figures indicate at least 3,535 fatalities, with thousands still unaccounted for. Additionally, approximately 16,700 individuals sustained injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. As rescue teams gradually lose hope of locating survivors beneath collapsed structures, medical professionals have redirected their efforts toward those already found.

With an estimated 18,000 people now without shelter, physicians confront an emerging wave of health concerns. These complications typically arise when large populations experience sudden displacement, particularly under challenging weather conditions involving heat, precipitation, and airborne particulates.

"We're seeing diarrhea, respiratory infections — skin diseases, because they're exposed to the sun for many hours," explains Dr. Eduardo Celades, a senior health adviser for UNICEF.

Common ailments affecting previously healthy individuals now include dehydration, asthma exacerbations, and severe sunburn. These conditions intensify when people lose access to their regular medications, consistent nutrition, and reliable water supplies.

"As well, there will be risks of outbreaks — like for example measles, respiratory infections. This is going to be our priority," Celades emphasized to NPR correspondents.

Healthcare Infrastructure Under Strain

The World Health Organization reported that three hospitals sustained critical structural damage, rendering them completely nonfunctional. Several additional facilities operate at partial capacity, with frontline medical personnel among the casualties of this catastrophe.

"The lady who was running the entire maternal pathways (maternity program) is missing, and unfortunately is presumed to have perished in the earthquake," noted Ian Clarke, incident manager for the WHO's health emergency response in Venezuela.

International humanitarian organizations have mobilized rapidly, deploying physicians and establishing temporary medical centers. Samaritan's Purse constructed a 56-bed field hospital featuring intensive care units and surgical theaters. Meanwhile, Project Hope established a mobile clinic at a shelter within one of the most severely affected districts, providing comprehensive primary care including prenatal ultrasounds.

Medical professionals initially struggled to treat the first wave of disaster victims—patients requiring limb amputations or suffering from severe lacerations caused by shattered glass. Currently, their attention focuses on supporting a traumatized, displaced population whose healthcare infrastructure has largely collapsed. Physicians from other Venezuelan regions and international locations have volunteered for telehealth consultations, while additional aid organizations concentrate on strengthening primary care networks and mobile medical units.

"A team of doctors and psychologists travels there daily to provide primary healthcare to all those affected and to offer psychological first aid," described Dr. Ligia Gordon, an OB-GYN affiliated with Project Hope in Caracas. "What I see with my own eyes as I pass by all these buildings are thousands of people walking in the street, disoriented, who need help."

Aid Efforts and Pre-Existing Challenges

The World Health Organization has transported six metric tons of medical supplies to the affected region, with an additional 28 tons en route from their Dubai distribution center. These donations encompass trauma kits, protective equipment for medical staff, and resources designed to prevent disease transmission. The Chilean and Brazilian governments have contributed vaccines targeting tetanus, diphtheria, and yellow fever. Furthermore, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has dispatched 36 tons of assistance, including hygiene kits, cleaning materials, and water filtration systems.

However, these emergency efforts address a healthcare system already weakened by years of economic instability. Under the administration of ousted president Nicolas Maduro, Venezuela experienced severe economic deterioration driven by hyperinflation and international oil sanctions. Medical supply shortages became increasingly common, vaccination coverage declined significantly, and cases of measles, diphtheria, and malaria escalated dramatically. Approximately one-third of the nation's physicians emigrated during this period, according to the Venezuelan Medical Federation. Consequently, the remnants of what was once a comprehensive public health network proved insufficient to manage the unprecedented scale of this disaster.