Venezuela

A Red Cross volunteer holds a baby at a local clinic. The Venezuelan Red Cross operates a number of medical clinics throughout the country.

OVERVIEW

Recent years of economic hardship in Venezuela have brought not only political turmoil, but also a decline in proper health care. As a result, childhood illnesses in Venezuela have been rising.

IMCI PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMING

-Clinical Training

The Venezuelan Ministry of Health has provided clinical IMCI training to doctors, nurses and other health care professionals for improved diagnosis and treatment of diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infections, measles, malaria, and malnutrition. Assistance for this training comes from organizations including the Pan American Health Organization and the American Red Cross.

-Community IMCI Projects

Andres Eloy, Crespo, Barinas and Falcon

Community groups are joining together to better child health through:

• Improved health services local community centers for pregnant women and children younger than five years of age.
• Collaboration with the University of Barquisimeto to train medical students in community IMCI and involve them in project activities during their rural medical rotation.
• Community home visits and health education by Red Cross volunteers and community health promoters in selected communities to increase local knowledge of the 16 Key Family Practices.

-Additional Projects

Working through the Venezuelan Red Cross, the American Red Cross is funding water and sanitation programs in the western state of Falcon where IMCI programming is also being implemented.

Vital Statistics for Venezuela
Human Development Ranking (out of 162 nations)	61
Population	23,916,810
Population growth rate	1.56%
Infant mortality rate	25.37 deaths/1,000 live births
Under-five mortality rate	23 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth	73.31 years
Total fertility rate	2.46 children born/woman
Maternal mortality ratio	60 deaths/100,000 live births
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate	0.49%
People living with HIV/AIDS	62,000
HIV/AIDS deaths	2000
GDP per capita	$6,200
Population living on $1 a day	18.70%
Population living below national poverty line	67%
Population without access to safe water	16%
Population without access to adequate sanitation	26%