Around 9.3 million people in Venezuela have some type of health problem and lack access to medication due to low purchasing power, which forces them to prioritize the acquisition of food, explained Natasha Saturno, Coordinator of the Human Rights Enforceability Unit at the Venezuelan NGO Acción Solidaria.
“This tells of a difficult situation (…) that also justifies the need to maintain our humanitarian programs,” said the human rights defender during the presentation of the achievements of the Health Humanitarian Response Program of Venezuelan NGO Acción Solidaria.
Ms. Saturno pointed out that, given the lack of economic resources, almost 90% of Venezuelans depend on the public health system, which is experiencing a “situation of collapse”, which is one of the “most obvious and clear faces of the crisis.”
In this sense, the founder and president of Acción Solidaria, Feliciano Reyna, assured that a large part of the population is experiencing a “critical situation (…) in terms of their right to health.”
Mr. Reyna indicated that, from the creation of the Health Humanitarian Response Program in 2016 to 2023, the organization has received 314 tons of aid from partners abroad and in the country, mainly medical treatments and supplies.
According to reports from 58 of the 137 Acción Solidaria´s partner organizations that distribute this aid in the country, “more than 775,000 people have benefited with medical treatment” since 2018, “426,000 (55%) of them are women.” Reyna pointed out.
In addition, Venezuelans over the age of 55 constitute the group in “need of greatest support” for pathologies such as hypertension and diabetes, as well as respiratory problems and other types of health issues.
The activist added that “we are making an effort to train the members of the 137 partner organizations so that they can compile reports, which will make it possible to determine the full reach of the humanitarian response.”
Translated by José Rafael Medina
