Venezuela's field hospital, the first in Latin America
http://www.avn.info.ve/contenido/venezuela039s-field-hospital-first-latin-america

Caracas, 10 Sep. AVN.- Venezuela's field hospital Humanitarian Task Force Simon Bolivar, part of the social security institute IVSS, is the first one established in Latin America.This mobile hospital, in central state of Miranda, has capacity for 54 hospitalization beds, 2 operating rooms and 4 areas for intensive care, as well as labs, X rays, sterilization, kitchen, area for laundry and restrooms.In addition, the hospital generates its own electricity with a power plant, as well as water and air purification plants. "We are the first ones in Latin America with this and we are able to attend any natural disaster, emergency in the country," said IVSS national logistics director Juan Carlos Lara.In local television, Lara explained that the mobile health care unit may be moved and placed in any territory of the country. Its structures include 16 containers and 4 for logistic support, which may be transported by air, land and sea.Water supply at the self-sustaining hospital is enough for all the areas, including bathrooms with showers and communities who attend there.Juan Carlos Lara said that the hospital was made and brought from China, where a group of people were trained for 15 days in technology, operation and display of the hospital."This is an effort made by the Venezuelan Social Security Institute (IVSS) together with Civil Protection," he said.In the coming days, Lara added, four groups of people will be trained to use the hospital in the face of any situation."There is a system to choose and classify these people," he said and detailed that a group will be from the western area of the country, one form the East and one from the central region.The launching of this field hospitals required investment by 4.5 million bolivares and the joint work of IVSS and Civil Defense.