A Complete Week

Photo: The HBI Team Peru 2011

"I think it was a really complete week of outreach," so were the words of HBI's Director of Operations as we drove north on the Pan American Highway to Lima following our last day of outreach in Ica. He is right. This has been a complete week. All and all, we have provided medical, dental, psychological, and optometric services to over 1,300 patients.

Our team members have taught at the local university (Alas Peruanas University)- where Dr. Al Turner provided physical therapy students instructions in manual medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). In addition, Dr. Bob Gehringer (HBI's Medical Director) taught neonatal resuscitation program (NRP) classes to over 70 nurses and physicians in Ica area Ministry of Health clinics. Working in partnership with two Peruvian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) we provided HIV testing to over 300 patients - testing 4 people positive for HIV and helping to link them into care. Finally, working in partnership with the Peruvian NGO OPRECE, over 800 people were screened for cataracts and another 65 patients were found to be suitable candidates for surgical removal of their cataracts during a free Clinton Foundation sponsored campaign during the week of July 25.

It truly was a complete first week of the 2011 Team Peru outreach campaign. I am really proud of all the work our team has done and the amazing organization and logistics coordination HBI's Director of Operations has undertaken to put this great outreach project together.