Mountain Outreach - Building Bridges

Wednesday was a fantastic day that had the outreach team working in the high Andes. We conducted clinic at over 14,000 feet above sea level in a mining camp. Our team of healthcare providers were able to serve in a number of different ways – from the direct delivery of medical care (mostly upper respiratory tract infections) to dental care (extractions and screening examinations) to health education and physical therapy instruction. In a little over 6 hours our team attended to almost 150 patients. Our campaign is conducted in collaboration with our long term in-country partner agency – The Mission of Alto Cayma.

For over 12 years the Mission of Saint Paul has been delivering integrated care to the underserved communities of Alto Cayma. The mission has a “brick and mortar” clinic that delivers healthcare services to over 22,000 patients each year and provides over 600 meals each day to the most marginalized of the community. Current programs are facilitated out of Parish owned amenities and are under the direction and fiduciary auspices of the Parish Council.

Working in a team based approach – the mission utilizes the “triage” services of a social worker to identify and enroll persons into a social advocacy program. The mission has developed comprehensive vocational training programs and child advocacy projects that help to link underserved families with educational, social and economic resources. The Mission provides outreach to isolated mountain communities two days per month and helps to ensure adequate access to medical and dental care through the main clinic. Our remote clinic was an extension of the on-going longitudinal healthcare provided by the Mission; and is designed to continually connect marginalized populations to services.

One bi struggle the Mission is currently facing is the advancing cost of food. As the cost of basic food stuffs and general healthcare services have far outpaced the wages available to the people of Alto Cayma employed in the informal sector – the need for more expanded advocacy services is ever apparent. Many of the families living in Alto Cayma fall into the lowest socioeconomic strata as determined by the Government of Peru – and do not posses the economic leverage to purchase even the simplest staples of food and housing/shelter.

Our collaborative plans call for the expansion of the nutrition and feeding program and an expansion of the integrated healthcare delivery model that will provide greater access to general healthcare services to a broader geographic area. You can support to this expanded capacity project by donating to Health Bridges International.

Once again – thank you for your continued interest in the work of HBI and our “bridge building” efforts.