Venezuelans transform medicine into music to help the sick

Caracas – A Michael Jackson compact disc or a vinyl with Spanish Lola Flowers songs were among the currencies of change in the "Music by Medicines" day that was celebrated in Caracas to collect medicines that will be delivered to Venezuelans who need it and can not afford it.

A group of human rights activists are allied with booksellers and collectors to shape this kind of barter that seeks to mitigate the consequences of the drug shortage and the health crisis in general, at least for a few.

Rafael Uzcátegui, general coordinator of the Venezuelan Program of Education and Action for Human Rights (Rafael Uzcátegui), told Efe that one of the objectives was " to awaken that feeling of solidarity that characterizes Venezuelans and that the difficult situation. "

He explained that although none of the participating civil associations knew in depth how to handle a discotienda, they were advised to establish a points system that would determine the value of each piece of music depending on the drugs that each citizen will wear.

Thus, a painkiller gave a point, a three antibiotic and a high cost drug equaled five points and regardless of the sufficient contribution to choose from among hundreds of compact discs, collections, acetates and other forms of recordings. Musical physics.

The offer included sacred, classical and traditional Venezuelan music; genres such as opera, trova, salsa, merengue, tango, rock and dance, as well as bolero and children's songs. "This does not solve the problem, but it relieves the sanitary situation of a person who needs it," insisted Mr. Uzcátegui after reiterating to Nicolás Maduro's Executive the request for a meeting. humanitarian channel allowing the entry of food and rare remedies.

The activist also said that the collected drugs will be forwarded to the headquarters of the non-governmental organization Acción Solidaria in Caracas, where they will be able to call patients to find out if the drugs they need are finally among those collected.

This NGO, according to Uzcátegui, has alliances with 60 other organizations deployed nationwide that frequently give medicines to patients living in disadvantaged areas and to members of indigenous communities.

The Pharmaceutical Federation of Venezuela estimates that more than 80% of the remedies are not available today in the Caribbean country. Initiatives such as "Music for Drugs", according to Provea, seek to prevent Venezuelans from getting used to it. to this situation which has worsened over the last four years.

The call was supported by dozens of people who left the boxes and containers that they brought and received their points written in a ticket at the entrance of the company. a small concert hall.

Claudia Owen, a 48-year-old Colombian who has been living in Venezuela for 40 years, said she's been going on site with antiallergics, medication for hypertensive patients and respiratory diseases, but with no special interest in the 39; exchange.

They were "things that I had at home and that with the shortage that there is here" I preferred "come and support" he said after deciding to receive for his contribution an Italian album of Claudio Baglioni, a bracelet and a bag with the logos of the act.

For his part, Mr. Simón Montaño, 48, from Caracas, celebrated the opportunity to obtain music for his personal collection and at a "very good price". He said that he took remedies to treat various ailments, as well as aspirin and creams, for which he received 25 points which allowed him to obtain more and more. A dozen compact discs of singers such as the Mexican Enmanuel and the Italian Zucchero.

Montaño celebrated having bought these drugs because, he says, his contribution "will be dedicated to a person who has a specific need like many currently in Venezuela".