Venezuela seeks foreign medical aid amid health crisis 'genocide'

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http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2016/04/06/Venezuela-seeks-foreign-medical-aid-amid-health-crisis-genocide/1691459953798/


CARACAS, Venezuela, April 6 (UPI) -- Venezuela is closer to declaring a national humanitarian health crisis that would force the ruling government of President Nicolas Maduro to accept foreign medicinal aid.

The Bill to Address the Humanitarian Health Crisis passed the first of two votes in Venezuela's unicameral National Assembly on Tuesday. After a health crisis is declared, Venezuela can then receive medications as a form of aid from other countries, specifically in
Latin America and Europe. Venezuela would also be allowed to request assistance from the World Health Organization.

José Olivares, president of Venezuela's Commission of Health, introduced the bill during debate and warned that Venezuelans living with HIV and cancer are particularly at risk, also criticizing Maduro and his health minister, Luisana Melo.

"In Venezuela the problem is not with pharmacies, the problem of Venezuela is that there are no medications," Olivares said. "I hope you can sleep peacefully, as hundreds of Venezuelans do not sleep peacefully because they can't find their medicines."

Venezuela continues to experience shortages of medicine, lack of food for the sick, shortages of infant formula, increased maternal mortality rates and loss of transplant organs due to power failures.