Overcrowding, lack of clean water biggest health risks in Venezuela

The biggest risks to residents' ​health following devastating twin earthquakes ‌that ripped across Venezuela's northern coast last month include interruptions to ​regular medical care, overcrowding in ​shelters and lack of access ⁠to clean water, Jarbas Barbosa, ​the director of the Pan ​American Health Organisation, said on Thursday.

The organization is working closely with Venezuela's health ​ministry to trace any outbreaks ​of respiratory or digestive illnesses, especially in ‌shelters ⁠set up for those who lost their homes, other PAHO officials added in a call ​with journalists.

However, ​the ⁠country must guarantee access to vaccines, Barbosa added, ​especially as vaccination rates ​in ⁠Venezuela were lower than needed prior to the disaster and the ⁠country's ​health system was ​already suffering sustained problems because of its ​economic crisis.


-Reuters