The lives hanging from a bridge between Venezuela and Colombia
According to NGOs, 22 people with serious illnesses died trying to pass from Tachira state.
The United Nations NGO Community has one of the most unfortunate accounts occurred following the closure of the border between Venezuela and Colombia on the side of Tachira. According to its records, 22 people have died trying to cross the bridge linking both countries looking for medication or treatment.
The Colombian government tightened immigration measures on the border with Venezuela to maintain security and order at border crossings that met over six months ended February 19.
When he began to feel the failure inputs and medicines in Venezuela, that country's citizens living in border towns began to move to Colombia for treatment. But once the lockout began, preceded by a partial closing night coming since August 2014, restrictions became stronger.
In the "new stage" of Colombian-Venezuelan relations from the blockade, in Venezuela began granting permits 24 hours for medical appointments and up to one month in case of surgical procedures, and permits for cancer patients with HIV, insulin or with renal involvement that required hemodialysis.
The last death of a person in the attempt to cross the bridge, according to the NGO, occurred for patient management on the Venezuelan side, Jacinto said Jaimes, legal representative of the organization and a member of Lawyers Without Borders association.
Jaimes said health protocols state that must have oxygen ambulances and paramedic, and that are on the border of the Venezuelan side do not even have an oxygen cylinder. Thus, a patient who came from Colombia to Venezuela in critical condition to be handed over to their relatives died in the ambulance transfer.
Jean Carlos, age 3 and grandson of Libya Oman, had leukemia. Seven months ago he practiced chemotherapy in Cucuta. On December 11, 2015 had fever and convulsed. In Ureña him down the fever, but advised him to take him urgently to Cucuta. The grandmother reported that addressed the National Guard to ask permission was denied. Desperate, he sought the child and his parents and brought it to 1. m. to the bridge for him to see the Guard.
"Lord, look no lie that the child has blue lips, convulsing, I is dying. God, let me go, I beg. It was impossible, said I could not, I had to take care since they had, which could fire him for letting us go, "he told the woman, remembering, haltingly.
They had to wait in an outpatient in San Antonio until 6 a. m. December 12, when firefighters arrived to move the child to Cucuta. His condition had worsened so much that when entering the Colombian medical center died.
Most patients who go to Colombia for attention have dual nationality, allowing them to access medical services in the neighboring country.
