Close-range rubber bullets, flying rocks, tear gas canisters and tear gas have caused the majority of wounds and health problems, according to over a dozen doctors and rights groups. Most of those injured appear to be opposition protesters, but Maduro supporters, security forces and bystanders are also seeking treatment, these people said.
Families are hauling injured relatives to multiple health centres, scouring pharmacies for medicine, raising funds to buy pricier drugs on the black market, and posting messages on social media begging for medical donations. But with around 85% of medical supplies unavailable, according to a leading pharmaceutical group, many Venezuelans are still unable to get optimal treatment — or any at all. Luis Monsalve, 15, was hit in the face by a tear gas canister amid a major protest last week.
Since then, his family and friends have been scrambling to collect supplies for surgery to allow him to see with his right eye again. “If we had everything, they could have operated on Saturday,” said his father Jose Monsalve, 67. Others tell similar stories. Administrative assistant Raquel Mignoli, 44, caught a nasty stomach bug after jumping into Caracas’ sewage-filled Guaire river to avoid a volley of tear gas but was unable to find medicine despite visiting five pharmacies.
Teacher Yrma Bello, 57, lost consciousness and suffered facial bruising after being slammed to the ground by a water cannon in the jungle and savannah state of Bolivar. The local hospital did not have painkillers or anti-inflammatories, so her friends started a campaign on WhatsApp for donations. The injuries are heaping more stress on Venezuela’s saturated hospitals and dwindling ranks of doctors, some of whom are volunteering to treat people at protests. The shortages are also a cruel irony for some injured demonstrators, who were actually out protesting those chronic shortages that have cancer patients going untreated and millions of Venezuelans skipping meals.
