Critical situation in Venezuelan hospitals as nationwide blackout enters second day

[GatoGordo]

Health sector in critical situation after general blackout
One death, 10,000 people waiting for dialysis and at least 12 hospitals without a power plant are some of the incidents registered after almost 24 hours without power

By DANIELA LEÓN
MARCH 8, 2019 04:40 PM | UPDATED ON MARCH 8, 2019 4:44 PM

translated from Spanish

The Venezuelan health sector was one of the main victims during the general blackout of more than 20 hours. Suspended treatments, closed healthcare centers and lack of refrigeration of special medicines are some of the incidents registered during Thursday and Friday. At least 12 hospital rooms remain without light.

Julio Castro, infectious disease physician; Francisco Valencia, director of Codevida, and José Manuel Olivares, deputy to the National Assembly for the state of Vargas, offered statements on Friday about the situation in the country's hospitals.

Olivares explained that the La Victoria hospital, the El Valle maternity hospital, the General del Sur Hospital in Maracaibo and the Miguel Oraa hospital in Portuguesa do not have any source of energy to supply.

On the other hand, he indicated that the Maternidad del Sur in Carabobo, the hospital of Los Magallanes de Catia, the University Hospital of Caracas and the City Hospital Dr. Enrique Tejera of Carabobo only provide electricity to emergencies and intensive care units.

-snip-

http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/sociedad/sector-salud-situacion-critica-tras-apagon-general_273925

[GatoGordo]

1. 15 dead children in Maturin due to ongoing blackout

María Hernández: "At least 15 children have died in Maturín this Friday"
The deputy assured that the situation in the city is critical because the health center does not have a power plant



translated from Spanish

For THE NATIONAL
MARCH 8, 2019 03:18 PM | UPDATED ON MARCH 8, 2019 3:19 PM

María Hernández, deputy to the National Assembly (AN) for the Monagas state, denounced that at least 15 children have died in the last hours in Maturín.

"The staff of the morgue informs us that there are 15 children waiting to be transferred to funeral homes this Friday, ensuring that if the relatives do not remove the bodies, the minors would be buried in common graves to avoid contamination in the entity," the parliamentarian explained.

Hernandez said that the situation in the city is critical because the health center does not have an electric plant and the service failure has continued in the area for 20 hours.

"The electronic equipment is not providing a vital service for the patients who require it, and many patients are requesting a transfer to private clinics or to their own homes," the deputy added.

http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/sociedad/maria-hernandez-menos-ninos-han-fallecido-maturin-este-viernes_273910