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'My baby would have died if I had stayed in Venezuela'

Births of Venezuelan babies at the maternity hospital in the Brazilian city of Boa Vista have surged as Venezuelan mothers increasingly leave their home country to give birth in the neighbouring country.

Nacho Doce/REUTERS Carla, 18, a Venezuelan pregnant woman, poses before she gave birth to her baby at a maternity hospital in Boa Vista, Roraima state, Brazil, 21 August 2018. — Births of Venezuelan babies at the maternity hospital in the Brazilian city of Boa Vista have surged as Venezuelan mothers increasingly leave their home country to give birth in the neighbouring country.

In the first half of 2018, 571 Venezuelan were born here compared with 288 in 2016, according to the Roraima state health department.

Nacho Doce/REUTERS Carmen Jimenez, 33, a Venezuelan from Bolivar state, holds her four-day-old baby Amalia at a maternity hospital in Boa Vista, Roraima state, Brazil, 21 August 2018 — In the first half of 2018, 571 Venezuelan were born here compared with 288 in 2016, according to the Roraima state health department.

The massive influx of Venezuelans has overburdened social services in Roraima state but expectant mothers like Cecilia say they have no other choice.

Nacho Doce/REUTERS Cecilia, a Venezuelan woman holds her baby at a maternity hospital in Boa Vista, — The massive influx of Venezuelans has overburdened social services in Roraima state but expectant mothers like Cecilia say they have no other choice.

"My baby would have died if I had stayed," says María Teresa López, one of the mothers who has made the trip across the border. "There was no food or medicine, no doctors," she says.

Nacho Doce/REUTERS Maria Teresa Lopez, 20, a Warao Indian from Delta Amacuro state, uses a syringe to feed her one-day-old baby Fabiola, at a maternity hospital in Boa Vista. — "My baby would have died if I had stayed," says María Teresa López, one of the mothers who has made the trip across the border. "There was no food or medicine, no doctors," she says.

Twenty-one-year-old Lismaris travelled to Boa Vista from Monagas state. Her baby is three days old.

Nacho Doce/REUTERS Lismaris, 21, a Venezuelan from Monagas state, holds her three-day-old baby Cecilia at a maternity hospital in Boa Vista, Roraima state, Brazil, 21 August 2018 — Twenty-one-year-old Lismaris travelled to Boa Vista from Monagas state. Her baby is three days old.

With frequent power cuts and sometimes no running water, many public hospitals have not been able to function in Venezuela.

Nacho Doce/REUTERS Jasmilfer, 23, a Venezuelan from Monagas state, holds her five-day-old baby Arjunea at a maternity hospital in Boa Vista, Roraima state, Brazil, 21 August 2018 — With frequent power cuts and sometimes no running water, many public hospitals have not been able to function in Venezuela.

Women like Marisol, 44, from northern Monagas state prefer to travel hundreds of kilometres than risk giving birth under the precarious conditions in many Venezuelan public hospitals.

Nacho Doce/REUTERS Marisol, 44, a Venezuelan from Monagas state, holds her two-day-old baby Amalia at a maternity hospital in Boa Vista, Roraima state, Brazil, 21 August 2018 — Women like Marisol, 44, from northern Monagas state prefer to travel hundreds of kilometres than risk giving birth under the precarious conditions in many Venezuelan public hospitals.

Health workers have been protesting for weeks against the poor conditions in Venezuelan hospitals but to little avail.

Nacho Doce/REUTERS Jackeline, 24, a Venezuelan from Bolivar state, holds her four-day-old baby Sofia at a maternity hospital in Boa Vista, Roraima state, Brazil, 21 August 2018 — Health workers have been protesting for weeks against the poor conditions in Venezuelan hospitals but to little avail.

While conditions in Venezuela remain as problematic as they currently are, young women like Irene, 23, will embark on the cross-border journey to ensure their babies get a better start in life.

Nacho Doce/REUTERS Irene, 23, a Venezuelan woman from Santa Elena city, holds her six-day-old baby Ashlei at a maternity hospital in Boa Vista, Roraima state, Brazil 21 August 2018 — While conditions in Venezuela remain as problematic as they currently are, young women like Irene, 23, will embark on the cross-border journey to ensure their babies get a better start in life.

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