“The time to help is now” is one of the commonly used phrases of the Doctor Ernesto Ramírez, 37, who for about 3 years found a formula on his social networks @Dr_ErnestoRamirez on Instagram and Facebook, to help destitute patients not only in Guárico State, but also in other regions of the country.
By La Patilla – Pedro Izzo
Jul 12, 2022
Faced with the complex hospital crisis that the country is experiencing and observing the difficulties that his patients suffered in finding and buying medicines, one day Ernesto decided to leave the office and try a different strategy that would allow him to offer a more effective service to patients, most of whom are in vulnerable conditions.
The Venezuelan doctor uses the power of social networks to help destitute patients in the country
What motivated you to undertake this social work for the benefit of the sick?
-It was notable to me at the beginning of the pandemic that many of my patients wrote to me requesting consultations, because all the inter-consultation services were suspended. That’s when I started posting cases of patients on my Instagram to help them, since for different reasons they couldn’t afford to pay for their healthcare needs.
How do you select the cases that you publish on your social networks?
-I always get a message where they explain to me that they have been told about me and have got hold of my phone number or through the social networks Instagram or Facebook.
Do you represent any foundation?
-I always explain to each person that I am not a foundation or an institution or something political or religious. The little or much I can do for each patient is through the support provided by people who see about these cases through social networks.
How many patients receive help in a month?
-On average there are two patients per week, although we help many people without the need to publish on networks, because they are medicines or tests that we get without the need to publish it. Each publication is documented in person. In previous days we traveled to Maturín, a twelve-hour journey to get there and meet Paula, a girl of one year and four months with a diagnosis of stage 4 neuroblastoma. This case is already on social networks.
Who make up your work team?
-I have a cameraman when documenting the cases. Although I always comment that my team are the followers of social networks. I am simply an intermediary between the patient and the people who want to help with actions.
What organizations support you to accomplish this task?
Venezuelan doctor uses the power of social networks to help destitute patients in the country
-There are different foundations inside and outside Venezuela which sometimes are willing to collaborate, but mostly they are ordinary people contributing their share out of empathy and willingness.
Have you managed to provide help to low-income patients at the “Ranuárez Balza” hospital in San Juan de los Morros?
-Yes, we have managed to help patients who are hospitalized, and on different occasions specifically the institution.
In San Juan de los Morros, some call him the “doctor of the poor”, what do you think of this distinction?
-First, it is too great a compliment, and beyond that acknowledgement that they give me with so much affection, the commitment arises with the patient and with myself. When it comes to making a publication we make every effort and knock on different doors to achieve that goal: whatever is needed at the moment.
What is the greatest satisfaction of this work that meets the most needy?
-The satisfactions are many. Already after these two years, people know that it is real and that everything is done with the greatest responsibility, because when I started people did not know who I was, and even if I had the best intentions, without the help of others this would not be possible. That is why today it is gratifying to see how from anywhere in the world, they write to me because they want to help.
If you were a health authority, what plans do you think are necessary to address the health crisis in Venezuela?
-Plans, programs, methods, among others, are already devised. The only thing missing is the awareness of each person to enforce them and make things better every day, from every different level at which they work.
Venezuelan doctor uses the power of social networks to help the destitute patients in the country.
…
Read More: La Patilla – Venezuelan doctor uses the power of social networks to help homeless patients in the country
…