Hospitals in Venezuela affected by the earthquake are now on the verge of collapse as the risk of disease increases

An assessment conducted by the UN-backed Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) found that eight health facilities reviewed in La Guaira, Caracas and Miranda needed immediate outside assistance.

Three suffered structural damage. Authorities have reported 2,295 deaths, 11,267 injuries and 12,841 people displaced or seriously affected.

Overwhelmed wards

At the Vargas-IVSS hospital in La Guaira, 96 patients were crammed into a ward built with eight beds. The morgue is overwhelmed, the blood bank holds only 35 units, and both ventilators in the trauma unit are not working due to a lack of electricity. There is no working telephone or internet connection to track patients.

Water comes via hand-carried containers several times a day. Medical waste piled up in the corridors. PAHO places Vargas-IVSS as a top priority facility, despite the strong structure of the building itself.

At the Rafael Medina Jiménez hospital, also in La Guaira, capacity fell from 108 beds to 35. Assessors also found problems with patient transportation, supply shortages, growing surgical waiting lists and biosecurity failures.

Respondents were among those affected

Ian Clark, who heads the World Health Organization (WHO) Health Emergencies Program, told journalists in Geneva that this disaster also hit emergency response workers.

“It is worth pausing to acknowledge the extraordinary work done by local communities and national and international response teams in extremely difficult circumstances,” he said. “In many cases, those responding at the community and national level are people directly affected, who have friends and family affected by the earthquake.”

Some health workers are still missing, Clark said, including officials who coordinate maternal care across La Guaira – a gap that has hampered efforts to track down pregnant women who need care.

He added that Venezuela’s health system entered the crisis and was already weakened many hospitals face shortages of up to 37 percent of essential medicines after years of underinvestment and a financial crisis.

Tens of thousands of health workers have emigrated from the country in recent years, he said, although he could not provide exact figures.

Help poured in

PAHO has delivered 2.18 tons of medicine and supplies to the La Guaira regional health authority, including trauma equipment, injectable drugs, protective equipment and 320 body bags. Another four tons arrived from Panama.

A 48-bed field hospital with four intensive care posts and two operating theaters is now operational at La GuairaPAHO said, with more medical teams on the way.

Director General of the UN health agency (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said this had already happened released $1.5 million from the Contingency Fund for Emergencieswith another 28 tonnes of medical supplies due to arrive from Dubai. PAHO and WHO have requested nearly $24 million to sustain the health response over the next six months.

Displacement spreads

The crisis is no longer limited to La Guaira alone. The UN humanitarian affairs office is coordinating support in eight states, including Zulia, Táchira and Anzoátegui, as displaced families continue to seek safety.

In La Guaira, sports venues including the José María Vargas complex and the César Nieves and Playa Grande stadiums have become centers for health, food, water and shelter services. UNHCRthe UN refugee agency, is seeking $14.85 million to support up to 30,000 people with shelter and essential assistance over the next six months.