Venezuela: Hugo Chavez’s brother dies, mother blames Health Minister

21st Century democratic socialism’s healthcare in the news:

Aníbal Chávez, brother of the late Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chávez, died on Sunday of complications of bacterial salmonella and brucellosis in the intensive care unit of the Military Hospital in Caracas, after having been transferred from the Varyná Clinic in Barinas and airlifted to the Santa Sofía Clinic in El Cafetal.

The Venezuelan government made the death announcement, and Nicolás Maduro tweeted, “My condolences to the Chávez family on the passing of mayor Aníbal Chávez. Eternal honor, brother!”

Transmito mis condolencias a la familia Chávez Frías por la partida del Alcalde Aníbal Chávez¡Honor Eterno Hermano!! pic.twitter.com/YBwgnXEcsU

— Nicolás Maduro (@NicolasMaduro) July 17, 2016

Elena, the Chávezes’ mother, blames the Health Minister for Aníbal’s death, according to unofficial sources (link in Spanish, my translation):

“If my son Hugo was alive, this tragedy would never had happened to my Aníbal, he would have been in Cuba, getting treatment. The ministers are responsible for such negligence.”

“If he had been treated on time, he would be alive and recovering,”

Siente América reports that Venezuela’s lack of clean water, hygiene products and medications is causing an increase in mange, yellow fever, hepatitis, diarrhea, and salmonella. The Health Ministry has not released official numbers since November 1, 2014.

It speaks volumes that the Chávezes’ own mother realizes that health care is in such dismal state in Venezuela that Aníbal should have been sent to Cuba for treatment.

And,

Too bad Doña Elena didn’t think of calling her granddaughter María Gabriela for help.

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