First Quarterly Report

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The pandemic is ravaging the country and a political stalemate is jeopardising the efforts to get the vaccines so badly needed. Health workers continue to die at an alarming rate and yet they keep doing the best they can to save lives. They are our Super Heroes. Despite the challenges, Healing Venezuela has been able to support thousands of people through our programmes and here is a summary of what we have done during the first quarter of 2021.

Medical Supplies / Covid 19

One of the challenges we face in Venezuela is the scarcity of diesel which is impacting the distribution of both food and medicines. Thanks to the effort of our suppliers and doctors on the ground, we could deliver our quarterly shipment of medical supplies and COVID19 PPE to 13 health centres, mostly small (ambulatorios) in different regions of Venezuela.

Food Programme

Because of the alarming increase of cases of malnutrition as a consequence of COVID19, we have expanded our food programmes in Caracas and in Guaraunos, a village in Sucre state. In Caracas, we are now distributing boxes of food to 154 families (instead of 150 children) on a monthly basis to cover the basic needs of proteins and carbohydrates.
In Guaraunos we are now included breakfast in our food programme for 103 children at risk of malnutrition. Children's health is closely monitored by doctors and nutritionists who take anthropometric measurements on a monthly basis.

Junior doctors

Because of the alarming increase of cases of malnutrition as a consequence of COVID19, we have expanded our food programmes in Caracas and in Guaraunos, a village in Sucre state. In Caracas, we are now distributing boxes of food to 154 families (instead of 150 children) on a monthly basis to cover the basic needs of proteins and carbohydrates.
In Guaraunos we are now included breakfast in our food programme for 103 children at risk of malnutrition. Children's health is closely monitored by doctors and nutritionists who take anthropometric measurements on a monthly basis.

Water sanitation

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During Q1, we continued with the routine maintenance of 3 water treatment plants we installed in hospitals in Caracas. In total,  the plants delivered 73,000 litres of potable water for patients, staff and visitors, a luxury in a country with dramatic shortages of potable water.

Pregnancy prevention

Unwanted pregnancies are one of the main causes of the poverty cycle. It has been extremely difficult to continue with our pregnancy prevention programme because of the pandemic and the scarcity of diesel and petrol. But during the first quarter of 2021, our partners on the ground have managed to benefit 51 women including 11 teenagers with their and their parents' consent.

Awareness

We were honoured again to have been chosen by Human Rights Watch as screening partners during their 2021 London Film Festival with the documentary: "A la Calle" (To the Streets) which exposes the humanitarian emergency in Venezuela.
We are participating in a working group sponsored by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), part of the UN. With other international NGOs, we are working on a framework for the role of the diasporas in humanitarian response.

How did we do it

As a charity run entirely by volunteers, we continue to be amazed by the support we keep receiving not only from the UK but from other parts of the world. During Q1 we staged a fabulous Venezuelan rum tasting event organised by our super-volunteer Marcos Pilavakis. We had a lot of fun!

We have also organised a virtual challenge in Roraima Mountain, one of Venezuela natural marvels. Walking, running, cycling, we were all dreaming with the spectacular views of our beloved Roraima.

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