My sister just gave us an order: to go to every single supermarket, drug store etc, near our offices, looking for the milk their children need; specially my little niece who is just one year old. On every supermarket I visit asking for the milk, I encounter the same scene. Three or four moms, or grandmothers, are looking for the same, frustrated. Now that the milk specially made for kids has disappeared, regular milk is starting to scarce. Every day that goes by is a day that every kid in Venezuela is not receiving the nutrients he needs. Every day that goes by, the anxiety and desperation of their parents grow. This is the worst trouble they face, but not the only one. The whole Johnson’s line for babies disappeared from one day to another, a few months ago. The baby powder, baby’ oil, shampoo, baby’ cream etc, just disappeared. Now you can find those products of other brands, most unfamiliar brands. My sister has started to prove each, with no success, none of those products have a quality compared to the Johnson’s one; those she was used to. Some have a weird smell. All baby powders seem to have a strange texture. And lets not start talking about the cream.
Diapers shortages are another addition to the drama. Early this year, there was a major diapers shortages (and sanitary pads too, as readers noticed). The situation is better now, but you still can’t find diapers of all brands, and all sizes. My sister has changed brands at least twice and one of those brands gave allergies to my niece. When my nephew was born, back in 2007; my sister was crazy about diapers specially made for the pool. Now you can’t find those anywhere; so my niece has never tried the fabulous diapers her older brother used on every beach trip. Now beach trips are troublesome, with no appropriate diapers to wear.
People who do not have babies don’t notice. Politicians are talking about Chavez’ disease, upcoming elections, insecurity, national debt, international community and Human Rights. All those are very important topics for me, for everybody. But for all those parents out there, nothing is more important than having those things their kids (specially babies) need; and that they cannot find.