Paola Valentina Fuentes, the organization’s publicist, explained that they delivered the supplies to more than 100 health professionals thanks to the support of Dr. María Carolina Delgado. Interns, surgeons, pediatricians, neurosurgeons, the staff of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), anesthesiologists, nurses, and other workers benefited from the donation
After two weeks of fundraising, Ciclovías Maracaibo donated more than 100 face shields and N95 masks to health professionals of the Autonomous Service of Maracaibo University Hospital.
Paola Valentina Fuentes, the publicist of the civil organization promoting the use of bicycles in the capital of Zulia, explains that the initiative was born after a doctor drew attention to the safety situation at the Hospital.
“Given the situation described by the doctor, we saw the need to help increase the security measures aimed at preventing infections among the personnel that care for the patients,” Fuentes declared.
Given this premise, they launched a fundraising campaign to buy about 100 face shields. However, thanks to the donors who “embraced the proposal”, they exceeded that figure and also acquired N95 masks.
Before purchasing the supplies and making the initiative public, the organization conducted a small investigation to determine who would be the recipient of the donation. Dr. María Carolina Delgado supported and guided the team throughout the process.
This is how the organization was able to benefit more than 100 health professionals, including interns, surgeons, pediatricians, neurosurgeons, personnel from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), anesthesiologists, nurses, and other workers at the hospital.
Delgado was in charge of auditing the donation and delivering it to each of the beneficiaries. Fuentes explained that each implement was identified with the name of the recipient, as a way of thanking them for the work they do.
“After raising the funds, the masks were purchased from a provider. A member of the organization counted each of the items and then we met with the doctor to hand over the supplies so she could deliver them to the health personnel, “said Fuentes.
The organization’s publicist highlighted the work of over 30 people, which made possible the purchase of the supplies. “We received donations from many people in different states of the country and from Venezuelans abroad who helped the campaign succeed,” she said.
“We are sure we will repeat the initiative in the future because there is a great need. We will collect safety supplies to help prevent Covid-19 infections in the hospital, “Fuentes added.
From the beginning of the quarantine, Ciclovías Maracaibo has offered a delivery service to the entire Zulia community. It is free of charge to foundations in the field of nutrition and healthcare.
The delivery service was created after some members of the organization helped their relatives and friends locate and send basic consumption items.
Translated by: José Rafael Medina
