Venezuelans are increasingly relying on friends and strangers to help pay for COVID-19 treatment as hyperinflation and soaring health care fees make social media pleas and crowdfunding campaigns the only way to cover costs while infection rates rise.
Venezuelan healthcare workers go from door to door to vaccinate residents against the coronavirus disease CARACAS -
Due to voracious inflation, most Venezuelans have no savings. Now families and friends of patients with COVID-19 post weekly appeals for funds on Twitter and Facebook, often using an account loaned to them from someone abroad if asking in dollars. "It was the hardest thing I've had to live through," said Borsegui. "But the crowdfunding had more reach than expected."
Despite all eight siblings contributing, the cost was still well above what they could afford. About 40% was paid for with the help of friends and acquaintances.