PAHO trains health workers in Venezuela to strengthen infection prevention during earthquake recovery

Caracas, Venezuela, 23 July 2026 (PAHO) - The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the regional office of the World Health Organization (WHO), in coordination with the Ministry of Popular Power for Health and the Social Security Institute, trained nursing professionals from health facilities in the Metropolitan Area of Caracas and La Guaira to strengthen infection prevention and control during the response and recovery following the earthquakes.

The training, held at the Dr. Domingo Luciani Hemato-Oncology Complex, aimed to strengthen the knowledge and capacities of health workers on the front line of the health response, as hospitals continue to care for people injured in the earthquakes and face increased demand for services.

During the workshop, the 45 participants reviewed the implementation of standard and additional precautions to prevent healthcare-associated infections, including hand hygiene, the appropriate use of personal protective equipment, environmental cleaning, and isolation measures according to the mode of disease transmission. They also analyzed practical cases and identified opportunities to strengthen prevention measures in their own health facilities.

"Right now, all hospitals in Caracas are receiving a significant number of patients related to the earthquakes. This increase in demand raises the risk of healthcare-associated infections," explained Valeska Stempliuk, PAHO Advisor on Health Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control.

"Hospitals must be prepared to prevent the transmission of infections within health services. Prevention measures protect patients, health workers and visitors alike," she added.

The conditions following the earthquakes also require continued vigilance against communicable diseases that can spread more easily in emergency settings, such as acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases and measles. For Sugey Rodríguez, a surgical specialist nurse and regional teaching coordinator for the Capital District, the training reinforced essential practices to respond safely during the emergency.

"This workshop reminded us of fundamental measures and also taught us how to apply different protection measures depending on the type of patient and the microorganism involved," she explained.

Many of the health workers who participated in the training have also been affected by the earthquakes. Some have suffered damage to their homes or have family members affected, while continuing to provide care to their communities.

"Health workers have experienced this emergency alongside the entire population. That is why it is so important to continue strengthening their capacities so they can respond safely, protect themselves and provide quality care to those who need it most," said Stempliuk.

This training is part of PAHO's ongoing support to the health response in Venezuela following the earthquakes. In coordination with national health authorities, the Organization continues to support efforts to maintain essential health services, strengthen epidemiological surveillance, prevent outbreaks and reinforce the capacity of health personnel during the recovery phase.