Versión Español
EspañolFaced with their country’s economic and political crisis, pregnant Venezuelans are moving to Colombia to give birth and in search of a better life for their children.
A report by the Spanish newspaper El País revealed that the “odyssey” faced by pregnant women looking to give birth safely is getting worse each day as the health sector enters into an “emergency state.”
According to a study by economist Steve Hanke at Johns Hopkins University, Venezuela has the worst economic conditions in the world.
At least 82 Venezuelan mothers sought medical care in Cartagena, Colombia while giving birth in the first two months of 2017.
“They usually go into the emergency room when they are in labor pains or feel very bad,” said Jorge Quintero, a doctor and hospital manager.
In 2016, 309 Venezuelans received medical care there, a turnover of almost US $50,000 in spending fort the clinic. Between January and February this year, that number has already reached around US $17,000.
The economic and political crisis in Venezuela has strongly affected Venezuelans, so much so that in February a Venezuelan mother decided to give her daughter away in Cúcuta, Colombia because she would have otherwise been unable to feed her.
Source: El País
