(Photo: Our clinic in Kusi)
(Photo: Our great team . . . well, not everyone) 
(Photo: The beautiful Union Biblica del Peru Kusi Camp in Ancash, Peru
This past week was truly a life enhancing experience. For almost 10 years I have dreamed of putting together a healthcare outreach program in Peru that was lead by Peruvian doctors and facilitated in an extremely underserved area. This past week allowed that dream to become a reality. In just under 5 days of clinic – our team of healthcare providers served almost 1,200 patients!
What made this project so unique and important was the use of Peruvian physician, dentist, psychologist and nursing staff. Peruvians caring for Peruvians has been the goal of HBI since we started working in medical outreach campaigns over 8 years ago.
In our first 4 days of clinic we operated out of a small camp run by Union Biblica del Peru in the northern district of Ancash (see: http://www.perutravels.net/peru-travel-guide/ancash-huaraz.htm). The camp, named Kusi after the local Quechuan (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quechuan_languages) word for “happy,” was the perfect environment for our team to immerse themselves in the service of giving. We stayed in the dormitory houses of the camp and ate our meals with the abandon street boys from the orphanage. Each day we learned about one another, we learned about giving selflessly and we learned about working as a team. By the end of our week stay – we were a finely honed “machine;” completely dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the patients we cared for in the clinics.
In our first 4 days of clinic we operated out of a small camp run by Union Biblica del Peru in the northern district of Ancash (see: http://www.perutravels.net/peru-travel-guide/ancash-huaraz.htm). The camp, named Kusi after the local Quechuan (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quechuan_languages) word for “happy,” was the perfect environment for our team to immerse themselves in the service of giving. We stayed in the dormitory houses of the camp and ate our meals with the abandon street boys from the orphanage. Each day we learned about one another, we learned about giving selflessly and we learned about working as a team. By the end of our week stay – we were a finely honed “machine;” completely dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the patients we cared for in the clinics.
A very important aspect of the clinics was the simple fact that the Peruvian care providers were extraordinarily knowledgeable about the needs of the people, the prevalence of local diseases and the access (or lack there of) to on-going care and resources. They were the true “bridge” to ensure that the people we served in our clinics gained referrals and information about ways to get their basic healthcare needs met long after our team left. The Peruvian care team was also very supportive in teaching and training our three North American providers in how to best care for Peruvian people. The team truly came together under one very important mission – serving one another and being present to the needs of those all around us.
Our last day of clinic took place in the community of Valle Sagrado in the sprawling peri-urban slum of Carabayllo (in Northern Lima; see: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distrito_de_Carabayllo). For over 4 years HBI has worked in the community of Valle Sagrado – bringing various services and medical/dental campaigns. From our first interaction with the community, our goal has been the development of sustainable programs and projects. In the spring of 2007, the community organizing committee of Valle Sagrado requested that HBI helped with three “simple things” – procurement of warm weather clothing for the children of the community, assistance in the development and staffing of a community kitchen (comedor), and the on-going delivery of medical, social and dental services through outreach campaigns.
In June of 2007, HBI delivered warm weather clothing for all of the children of Valle Sagrado (see our posting - http://hbint.blogspot.com/2007/08/carabayllo-project.html). HBI has been working with the community organizing committee of Valle Sagrado to plan and structure the development of a sustainable community kitchen. Once again during this campaign we were able to continue to facilitate our long standing promise to deliver health and medical care services. In just over 5 hours of clinic our team provided care to an astonishing 197 patients – 157 medical and psychology visits and 40 dental visits. In addition, we were able to meet with the community leaders to discuss ways to build a more sustainable infrastructure for care delivery.
Some of the ideas that were discussed in our meeting include: the development of a small healthcare post in conjunction with the Ministry of Health (with nursing staff and health promotion through locally trained health promoters), the formation of a “Health Promoter” (see: http://community.gorge.net/ncs/background/promoters.htm) training program for the area, the development of a community center and community engagement program (a comprehensive social outreach project that would include vocational training, health and hygiene education, life skills classes, and legal aid), and the construction of a water filtration/purification plant for the area.
As you can see – a great deal of ideas have come from our one week healthcare campaign. It will now be important for HBI to take these ideas and strategize toward the development of sustainable programs and projects to meet the needs of the communities we support and collaborate with. Please stay tuned to this Blog site and our webpage (http://www.hbint.org/) for on-going updates and specific ways that you can get involved in supporting the work of Health Bridges International and our in-country partners.
Our last day of clinic took place in the community of Valle Sagrado in the sprawling peri-urban slum of Carabayllo (in Northern Lima; see: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distrito_de_Carabayllo). For over 4 years HBI has worked in the community of Valle Sagrado – bringing various services and medical/dental campaigns. From our first interaction with the community, our goal has been the development of sustainable programs and projects. In the spring of 2007, the community organizing committee of Valle Sagrado requested that HBI helped with three “simple things” – procurement of warm weather clothing for the children of the community, assistance in the development and staffing of a community kitchen (comedor), and the on-going delivery of medical, social and dental services through outreach campaigns.
In June of 2007, HBI delivered warm weather clothing for all of the children of Valle Sagrado (see our posting - http://hbint.blogspot.com/2007/08/carabayllo-project.html). HBI has been working with the community organizing committee of Valle Sagrado to plan and structure the development of a sustainable community kitchen. Once again during this campaign we were able to continue to facilitate our long standing promise to deliver health and medical care services. In just over 5 hours of clinic our team provided care to an astonishing 197 patients – 157 medical and psychology visits and 40 dental visits. In addition, we were able to meet with the community leaders to discuss ways to build a more sustainable infrastructure for care delivery.
Some of the ideas that were discussed in our meeting include: the development of a small healthcare post in conjunction with the Ministry of Health (with nursing staff and health promotion through locally trained health promoters), the formation of a “Health Promoter” (see: http://community.gorge.net/ncs/background/promoters.htm) training program for the area, the development of a community center and community engagement program (a comprehensive social outreach project that would include vocational training, health and hygiene education, life skills classes, and legal aid), and the construction of a water filtration/purification plant for the area.
As you can see – a great deal of ideas have come from our one week healthcare campaign. It will now be important for HBI to take these ideas and strategize toward the development of sustainable programs and projects to meet the needs of the communities we support and collaborate with. Please stay tuned to this Blog site and our webpage (http://www.hbint.org/) for on-going updates and specific ways that you can get involved in supporting the work of Health Bridges International and our in-country partners.
Thank you for your support of the work of HBI - My best, Wayne Centrone
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