Defying Odds: Venezuela's Community Pharmacies Stage a Standoff against American Sanctions
Rewritten Article:
Nestled on the slopes of Waraira Repano mountain, a sprawling neighborhood of cinderblock homes encroaches upon the forest's edge. This is the heart of Altos de Lidice, a community striving to bring sport to the local kids, ensure everyone has access to essentials like water, education, and primarily, healthcare.
The situation in Venezuela in 2019 is bleak. US sanctions, first implemented by Obama and intensified under Trump, are taking a heavy toll. These sanctions hinder international trade and the sale of oil, Venezuela's major export, disrupting the economy and triggering astronomical inflation. Millions of Venezuelans have been forced to flee their homes.
Rusted-out vehicles line the roads because there are no parts to fix them. Water systems are breaking down due to an inability to purchase vital components from foreign suppliers. Medical supplies are scarce, and finding proper medication is like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Pharmacy shelves across the country are barren. Pharmacists admit that nearly half of their stock is unobtainable. What little medication they have is priced beyond reach for the average citizen.
"Cancer patients usually just expire because they can't afford treatment," a Caracas-based pharmacist frankly confesses.
According to a study, over the past two years, tens of thousands of deaths can be attributed to these sanctions. People with cancer, those who need dialysis, and those suffering from diabetes or hypertension who cannot access insulin or cardiac medications are among the casualties.
This grim reality hasn't deterred the residents of Altos de Lidice. They've established a community pharmacy. They source whatever medications they can, from foreign donors, private individuals, and humanitarian groups. Medication has been delivered to them from countries such as Australia, Brazil, Italy, and Chile.
The pharmacy is managed by a health committee, formed by community members who meet at one of their homes. The same residence houses the pharmacy.
A sign greets visitors: "Communal Pharmacy - Health for the Barrio."
The medicine is freely distributed, provided the recipient holds a doctor's note from the local community health clinic, which is also free of charge.
It's a small gesture, but it means the world to those in the community. It's a matter of life and death. A beacon of hope in the midst of struggle.
Demonstrating resilience in the face of harsh sanctions and US intervention, this is the sixth episode of Stories of Resistance.
Stories of Resistance is a collaborative project between The Real News and Global Exchange. Each week, we'll share stories like this - stories of resistance and inspiration for challenging times.
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This story was written and produced by Michael Fox. For more on the communal pharmacy, read Michael's 2019 article for The Real News: Venezuelan Community Creates Solidarity Pharmacy to Counter US Sanctions
A report by the Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research sheds light on the thousands of deaths that occurred during this period due to US sanctions: Report Reveals US Sanctions Causing Tens of Thousands of Deaths in Venezuela
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of the Venezuelan editorial team.
Source: The Real News
- Despite the challenging circumstances caused by US sanctions in Venezuela, resulting in a scarcity of medical supplies and overpriced medications, the resilient residents of Altos de Lidice have organized a community pharmacy.
- This small yet significant initiative offers essential medications to those in need, sourced from foreign donors, private individuals, and humanitarian groups, with Australia, Brazil, Italy, and Chile being among the countries that have provided aid.
- The pharmacy is managed by a health committee, formed by community members, emphasizing the crucial role of grassroots organization in addressing medical-conditions like cancer, dialysis, and diabetes during war-and-conflicts and political instability.
- The communal pharmacy, a beacon of hope in the midst of struggle, exemplifies the spirit of health-and-wellness activism, providing life-saving medication to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it due to the economic impact of policy-and-legislation and general-news events.
- The pharmacy operates on a no-frills basis, offering medications for free to those with a doctor's note from the local community health clinic, which is also provided free of charge.
- This inspiring story of community organizing in the face of adversity is part of a collaborative project between The Real News and Global Exchange, serving as a testament to the resilience of the Venezuelan people and their commitment to overcoming hardships imposed by war-and-conflicts, politics, and US sanctions.
