Venezuela: Little Sisters of the Poor of Maiquetía set up a field hospital

By Johan Pacheco

"San José Hospital sustained structural damage in the earthquake and is no longer safe to occupy. That is why we have set up a field hospital directly across the street," explains Sister María Yraida Mora Sánchez, Vicar General of the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Poor of Maiquetía, whose healthcare ministry serves the communities of La Guaira and Caracas, Venezuela.

Like the rest of the population, the sister's greatest hope is that more survivors will continue to be found - a hope sustained by the miraculous discovery of survivors in recent hours beneath the rubble in La Guaira, where authorities have already reported more than 3,500 fatalities.

"Whenever you speak with someone, they tell you they have lost a friend, a relative, or a child. Others have lost their homes or their livelihoods because the areas where they worked were also destroyed," the sister says, describing daily life for the population in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Caring for shelters amid a humanitarian crisis

In addition to the care provided at the field hospital, Sister Mora explains: "We are also making regular visits to three emergency shelters, and the situation is extremely difficult. It is especially challenging because Venezuela was already facing a severe economic and humanitarian crisis, as much of the world already knows."

A religious sister providing assistance in the earthquake-affected area

She recalls how "last Sunday we celebrated the Eucharist here in Padre Machado Square. It was presided over by Bishop Pablo Modesto of La Guaira. The people's faith and trust in God remain strong, even in the midst of so much suffering." 

A hospital under tents and canopies

Sister María Mora describes how the medical center has had to adapt following the earthquake:

"Here in La Guaira we operate San José Hospital, a Level II healthcare facility with a wide range of medical services. We also run Madre Emilia School in Maiquetía, additional healthcare centers in Caracas, and a home for older adults. However, San José Hospital suffered severe structural damage and can no longer be used. As a result, we set up a field hospital in the square directly opposite the building. We are receiving support from the Italian Red Cross, AVESSOC (the Venezuelan Association of Christian-Oriented Health Services), and physicians from our own congregation who serve at Padre Machado Clinic and San José Hospital."

She adds:

"We are working under tents and temporary shelters, doing everything we can to make the space functional. This is where we are providing medical care, even though many of our staff and volunteers have themselves been affected by the disaster. Every day we also visit tent camps where displaced families are staying, bringing them water, food, medicines, and other essential supplies. In the midst of this tragedy, we cannot forget patients with chronic illnesses—those with hypertension, diabetes, or epilepsy. They need continued care and access to their medications so that their conditions do not worsen."

Fears of a public health emergency

Asked about concerns over disease outbreaks, Sister Mora explains:

"Sadly, our country's healthcare situation was already critical before the earthquake. Right now there is an urgent need for antihistamines, blood pressure medication, and antifungal creams, since Vargas State is an extremely hot region and there is currently no running water. The shortages are endless. We also see an enormous need for drinking water for those who are still working among the rubble, searching for survivors or trying to recover the few belongings they have left."

Regarding the work of healthcare professionals, she says their doctors "are organizing their patients so they can distribute medications to them, because in Vargas State most pharmacies were either destroyed or remain closed."

The sister points out that patients with the most severe injuries have been transferred to hospitals in Caracas. There "we are focusing on primary healthcare: treating wounds and managing cases of diarrhea and viral illnesses that are already beginning to emerge."

A legacy spanning 138 years

Sister Mora also shares the community's deep sorrow over the damage to San José Hospital: "It is the birthplace of our congregation. The chapel where the remains of Father Machado and Mother Emilia, our founders, are buried is located here. This hospital is a symbol not only for us, but for the entire state of Vargas (La Guaira). It has served the community for 138 years."

Despite the destruction, the Vicar General concludes with a reflection of hope: "The hospital is not simply a building of walls and concrete. The hospital is each one of us—every nurse, every doctor, and every sister who strives each day to give the very best of themselves."