We hope you had a happy holiday season and we take the opportunity to wish you a very healthy and successful 2020. Last year was a fantastic year at Healing Venezuela with income growth of 40% and a corresponding increase in the support we can give to Venezuela. The charity continues to be run entirely by enthusiastic volunteers always ready to lead our activities and fundraising efforts. As ever, we are truly grateful for the generosity of our donors. Without their contribution, we wouldn´t have achieved what this report describes.
In total in 2019, we shipped to Venezuela 3.3 tons of medical supplies collected from the UK, France and Italy health services. We have established a network of health centres across different states working with doctors we trust who distribute the supplies to those who need them most.
Unplanned pregnancies prevent women to participate in the labour market allowing the extreme-poverty cycle to be perpetuated. Also, pregnancy death has skyrocketed in Venezuela. In 2019 we kept supporting the pregnancy planning and awareness programme shipping more than 800 t-coils, 1,500 pregnancy, syphilis and HIV quick tests.
Mental health is a huge problem in Venezuela. This is why, in 2019, we have trained 1,610 people in stress management techniques in schools, NGOs and hospitals. We also helped in the training of 14 psychologists who provide free support to people in distress.
People living in remote areas in Venezuela are more vulnerable to the health crisis. This is why in 2019 we sponsored two basic-health programmes, one in the Orinoco Delta and one in Maniapure, Bolivar State. They involved doctors providing the building blocks of good health (dental checks, eye tests, nutrition advice, hygiene) to more than 1,400 patients.
As conditions worsen and experienced medical staff leave the country, junior doctors are at the forefront of medical care in state hospitals. To encourage young professionals to continue with their careers, we sponsored 110 doctors in 4 different universities in Venezuela. For just $15 per month, we help them to pay for their living expenses.
One of the most efficient ways to support healthcare in Venezuela is to repair equipment. In 2019, we repaired two gastroenterology units at the Lidice Hospital, one echocardiogram in Central University Hospital and donated 4 surgical saws to the Children Orthopaedic Hospital. More than 3000 people benefited from these improvements.
We continued to sponsor high-spec tests for low-income patients with very serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes, HIV and organ transplants. Of the 117 people we were able to help, the oldest was 82 and the youngest 2 years old.
There have been several fatalities, mainly among children, because of the poor quality of water in hospitals in Venezuela. In 2019, we installed two water treatment plants: in Vargas Hospital, one of the largest in Venezuela, and the other in the maternal-infant hospital at Caricuao. On an annual basis, these plants provide potable water for drinking and cooking to more than 30,000 people.
Part of our work is to raise awareness of the Venezuelan health crisis. In 2019 we were invited to attend a select committee at the House of Commons. We joined forces with Amnesty International in the screening of a movie: Está todo bien. We gave talks at several universities and companies and were present at the Festival des Solidarités internationales in Lyon.
2019 was an exceptional year. Thanks to a kind donor, we started with a billboard poster on one of the busiest roundabouts in London. In May, we were voted Start-up Charity of the Year. We opened a branch in France and we are now operating in 19 states of Venezuela! 2020 is a year of consolidation. We have a solid portfolio of projects which we will develop further.
All we did was thanks to our supporters and our extraordinary partners on the ground: ALAPLAF, Guerreros Azules, Fundavida, Arte de Vivir and CUMIS, amongst others. Thanks also to doctor Andres Ortiz and Alejandra Farina who are our eyes and ears on the ground. From weddings to long walks, we fundraised in every possible way. Please keep supporting us!
To donate, please go to:
https://www.justgiving.com/healing-venezuela
There are many ways to contact us, through social media, subscribing to our newsletter, or writing to us directly at: info@healingvenezuela.co.uk
