The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that Venezuela could face outbreaks of infectious diseases in the aftermath of the powerful earthquakes that devastated parts of the country, saying the disaster has placed enormous strain on the nation’s healthcare system.
Addressing journalists in Geneva on Tuesday, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said hospitals were struggling to manage the growing number of injured victims arriving for treatment.
“The health services are under extreme pressure now, with facilities operating beyond their capacity,” spokesman Christian Lindmeier told a press conference in Geneva, noting the surge in trauma cases.
Government figures show that approximately 1,700 people have lost their lives, while another 5,000 have been injured.
Authorities have not released an official figure for those still unaccounted for, although other estimates suggest the number of missing could run into the tens of thousands.
The UN health agency also reported serious difficulties in recording fatalities and locating missing people following Wednesday’s twin earthquakes, which measured 7.5 and 7.2 in magnitude.
“There’s an increased risk now of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases” such as measles and diphtheria, said Lindmeier, due to low pre-earthquake vaccination coverage, as well as yellow fever, and other vector- and water-borne diseases, including malaria, dengue, chikungunya and Zika.
Lindmeier disclosed that Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, informed the WHO that 38 hospitals were affected by the earthquakes.
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The agency said that by Saturday it had completed assessments at 21 health facilities located in Caracas, La Guaira, Miranda and Falcon.
Its findings showed that three hospitals were in critical condition, six had sustained structural damage or were operating only partially, while the remaining facilities continued providing services despite being under considerable pressure.
“Preliminary findings reveal chaotic service delivery and patient flow, marked by overcrowding; growing surgical backlogs, especially in trauma, orthopaedics, and neurosurgery; breakdown in biosafety measures; and severely stressed staff,” he said.
“Critical gaps include the collapse of forensic and morgue services, and inadequate casualty registration and tracking of missing persons.”
Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, cautioned that restricted access to humanitarian assistance was contributing to growing tensions among communities affected by the disaster.
According to the agency, about $14.85 million is needed to expand protection programmes and provide emergency relief supplies alongside temporary shelter for 30,000 earthquake survivors over the next six months.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) also announced plans to step up support for thousands of people who have been left homeless by the earthquakes.
“As the acute search-and-rescue phase comes to an end, both the number of people killed and the needs of survivors continue to rise.”
The medical charity added that mental health and psychosocial support services are being expanded, saying the demand for such assistance remains “extremely high”.