Maracaibo, August 6, 2025.—The Venemergencia Foundation’s Public Access Defibrillation program has arrived in Maracaibo in partnership with Seguros Venezuela. Thanks to a donation from the insurance company, on August 6, Venemergencia’s first Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was installed at the Basilica of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá, making the area surrounding the Basilica and downtown Maracaibo a cardio-protected zone, which significantly improves care for any cardiac emergencies that may arise.
The installation of the AED was preceded by a Mass of Thanksgiving for the entire congregation, officiated by the parish priest and rector of the Basilica, Father Nedward Andrade, at 9 a.m. The installation ceremony for the Automated External Defibrillator took place at 11 a.m. and was attended by Carmen Alicia Guillén, CEO of Seguros Venezuela, along with members of the company’s team. Representing Venemergencia was Dr. Luis Enrique Velásquez, founding partner and Chief Operating Officer of Venemergencia, along with other members of the company’s executive and regional management teams.
“I want to thank Seguros Venezuela and the Venemergencia Foundation for their generosity. Thanks to their vision and commitment, this gift of life has become a reality today,” said the Parish Priest and Rector of the Basilica, who also noted in his homily that “Their collaboration is a clear example of how private companies and nonprofit organizations can come together in service to the community.”
This partnership between the Venemergencia Foundation and Seguros Venezuela aims to protect and strengthen the health of the Maracaibo community by promoting collaboration to provide greater access to healthcare for Venezuelans. As part of the event to install the automated external defibrillator, basic life support courses were provided to parishioners so they would have the tools to act as first responders in the event of cardiovascular emergencies.
“Maracaibo has become a safer city. This project was very valuable to us, as it allowed us to continue supporting the community and engage directly with it, putting the safety and well-being of Marabinos first. At Seguros Venezuela, we will continue to stand by the Venezuelan community,” said Carmen Alicia Guillén, CEO of Seguros Venezuela.
“Every second counts in an emergency. Every minute that passes reduces the probability of survival by between 7% and 10%,” said Dr. Luis Velásquez, who explained that “installing a defibrillator provides an essential tool that can make the difference between life and death.”
To date, the Venemergencia Foundation has installed 26 defibrillators across the country. Of these, 15 were donated by the foundation to various public spaces, communities, and institutions in the city of Caracas, such as the headquarters of El Sistema, the Church of Our Lady of La Candelaria, the Palace of the Academies, and, most recently, the University of Carabobo.
To schedule interviews with Venemergencia spokespersons, please contact:
Isabela Iturriza Soulés, Communications and Institutional Relations Manager at Venemergencia
Phone: 04241064782 – 04123372580
