As part of the recovery plan that is being carried out in the different spaces of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV), the president of the Venezuela Bella Mission, Jacqueline Faria, toured the facilities of the Dr. Félix Pifano Institute of Tropical Medicine, which is being fully recovered.
“This is a structure designed by the architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva 60 years ago and where services are provided to treat different tropical diseases, but it was in deplorable conditions and by order of President Nicolás Maduro it was intervened, recovered and restored like other spaces of the UCV”, said Faria.
He explained that the original design was recovered and the conditions of the doctors and scientific personnel who work there were improved, in addition to the students who now have decent facilities for their training.
Among the recovery works carried out are the waterproofing of the roofs, as well as the repair of the façade, electrical system, doors and windows, as well as weeding, pruning and physiosanitary care for the trees.
A perimeter fence was also placed, bathrooms, elevators, classrooms, laboratories and floors were repaired. Likewise, painting and blacksmithing works were carried out in general.
For her part, Dr. Clara Martínez, interim director of the institute, stated that a change in environmental and structural conditions is observed. “Many of our laboratories had been dismantled, there were no conditions to work or to care for the large number of patients who come daily with neglected diseases such as Chagas and leishmaniasis, among others,” she said.
He added that technological developments, studies, diagnoses are also carried out at the Institute of Medicine, but that they did not have the physical conditions to continue with these tasks, in addition, that they were besieged by criminals.
“Now the spaces are transformed and dignified, this is the university we deserve, and we have already begun to observe groups of doctors, scientists and students returning to their activities,” said Martínez.