Venezuela Earthquake Amputees Face Lifelong Prosthetics Costs

From Rescue to Long-Term Recovery

The twin earthquakes struck on the night of June 24, collapsing dozens of buildings in the state of La Guaira and trapping survivors for hours. Ricardo Contreras waited hours to be rescued, his left leg pinned beneath a fallen door frame, which restricted blood circulation and forced the amputation. His parents both died from suffocation while the family awaited rescue.

Karina Bechara, who lost both legs in the disaster, was trapped in the rubble for 23 hours, immobilised by a piece of heavy furniture that crushed her legs. Before the earthquakes, she ran her own business and trained regularly with high-intensity CrossFit workouts. Now she relies on a wheelchair and hopes to stand on her new prosthetic feet by December 1.

Venezuela's health system was already weakened by years of economic crisis before the earthquakes, according to Ana Rosario, president of the Caracas Nurses Association. Hospitals often have too few nurses for the number of patients and sometimes rely on supplies donated by citizens and organisations.

The Financial and Psychological Toll

The cost of prosthetics remains a major barrier. A below-knee, or transtibial, prosthesis can cost between $3,000 and $5,000, while an above-knee prosthesis ranges from $7,000 to $12,000, according to Juan Pablo Dos Santos, founder of the foundation bearing his name. Artificial limbs with electronic components that react to the body's muscles can stretch into the tens of thousands of dollars.

"Although healthcare is technically free, patients may still have to pay for medicines, medical supplies, tests, transport and rehabilitation," Rosario said. "And these are costs that can continue for months."

Beyond finances, survivors face psychological hurdles. Damaso noted that many patients question whether they will walk again, need a wheelchair, or find a partner who will love them. "Right now, the challenges for them are going to be more than just physical. They're mental battles," she said.

What Lies Ahead

Ricardo Contreras has resumed work at his family's truck parts business and returned to university, where professors moved his lessons to ground-floor classrooms for accessibility. He has also become the legal guardian of his 16-year-old brother Andres, and the pair hope to secure a home through a government housing programme for earthquake victims.

The Juan Pablo Dos Santos Foundation is planning to establish a specialist orthotics and prosthetics centre in Venezuela, which it says is essential for providing ongoing support to amputees. Private donations are currently helping survivors like Ricardo pay for prosthetic limbs and rehabilitation, but with the average private-sector salary in Venezuela just above $200 a month, the long-term affordability of recovery remains uncertain.