When devotees believe a cure is attributed to the doctor’s intervention, they present his statue with metal plaques to show their thanks. A few thousand such plaques — inscribed with messages describing successful operations and miracles — have been presented to the sanctuary since it was founded in 1960. Born in Isnotú in 1864, Dr. Hernández studied medicine in Paris. His reputation for donating medication and treating the most vulnerable patients in Caracas, the capital, for free immortalized him in Venezuelan folklore. The image of Dr. Hernández — a mustachioed man in a black suit, white lab coat and bowler hat — is iconic in Venezuelan culture, and appeals across the political spectrum.

Source: New York Times August 01, 2021 06:56 UTC