VenEconomy: Venezuela’s Government Does Not Notice the ‘Log in its Own Eye’ From the Editors of VenEconomy Latin American Herald Tribune August 12, 2014
The Gospel of Luke quotes Jesus asking, “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? How can you say to your brother: “Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,” when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye” (Luke 6:41-42).
Certainly a wise reflection and warning those misgoverning Venezuela today should pay attention to before having made the decision of sending “humanitarian aid” to the Gaza Strip, which according to pro-government media reports consists of “27,163 tons of food (424,968 units), 8,123 personal hygiene products, 412 clothing and footwear packages, eight hospital bed units, 22 wheelchairs and 43 anti-bedsore mattresses,” among other supplies.
Without entering into discussion on the complicated geopolitical situation that plagues the region, with a regrettable death toll and misery all over the place; or considering whether the Gaza Strip requires little or much of the aid being sent by Venezuela; what is certainly reproachable about this action of the government of Nicolás Maduro is that it begins seeking political solidarities from a sector of the international community and turns a blind eye to today’s chaotic reality of Venezuela, where lots of people are being mercilessly killed on a daily basis even without a war having been declared, and where an inflationary spiral and widespread shortages are wreaking havoc.
Before turning eyes to Gaza, or Syria and Cuba (two other countries that have also received “humanitarian aid” from Venezuela’s communist regime), the government of Maduro should pay attention to the gigantic log generated by its criminal policies that have severely damaged the country’s productive system and wasted the money of the public purse, especially in the healthcare sector, where shortages of medications, medical equipment and all kinds of supplies are keeping the entire population, without distinction of race, creed or social situation, in check.
The medications situation is so serious that has led the Venezuelan Society of Public Health (SVSP) to issue a public statement complaining that “the lack of timely responses on the part of the National Government to address the problems identified from months ago are inevitably and immediately leading us to a humanitarian health crisis as we publicly warned on January 6 of this year, with serious and unpredictable consequences for the health and lives of the people.” A statement that also urges the Government to “address the causes of the lack of medical supplies, products and equipment and mitigate their consequences.”
Among other complaints, the SVSP said that 16 out of the 26 most frequently used drugs to treat cancer are not available at “high cost” pharmacies of the Venezuelan Institute of Social Security (IVSS) for almost a year, which represents a 55.5% deficiency of antineoplastic drugs in the country. A similar situation is repeated with antiretroviral agents to treat HIV, or other essentials for the health of millions of Venezuelans dependent on medications to control the thyroid gland, diabetes, high blood pressure or Parkinson’s disease.
In addition, the Venezuelan Association of Medical, Dental and Laboratory Equipment Distributors submitted to the Parliament – for the second time in three months – a detailed report on the lack of inventory of medical supplies, from essentials such as gauze, scalpel, to equipment and spare parts with a high level of specialization.
But how can this government focused on a project for a communist country see this log heavily affecting the right to life and health of citizens when it lives in contradiction to a budget that increases 40% with respect to 2013, to surpass Bs.55 billion ($1.1 billion at SICAD II rates) disbursed in a six-month period without noting any improvement in a crisis that continues to worsen and leave a trail of death much bigger than that seen in the Middle East?
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