First Name (first name only please):



Email:



India
India

Active Projects – Peru

Establishment of Mobile Health Clinics in Apurimac, Cuzco, Moquegua, Puno and Tacna

Partner Pro Mujer Peru

Location Southern Peru - Departments of Apurimac, Cuzco, Moquegua, Puno and Tacna

Facts about Location: Providing dental services in Peru

  • Breast and uteri cancers are the leading causes of death amongst women 20-59 years of age.
  • Peruvian women have the highest incidence of cervical cancer in South America.
  • Health problems are exacerbated by the distance to services and the lack of health education.
  • Two thirds of women cite the distance they would have to travel as a principle reason why they don’t use medical services.
  • Maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest in Latin America.
  • Home births with unskilled attention are common place.
  • 84% of women have untreated dental cavities.
  • 52% lack access to proper sanitation.
  • Nearly half of the population is below the poverty line.

Purposes:

  • To improve access to gynecological, dental, and basic healthcare for women and families in Apurimac, Cuzco, Moquegua, Puno, and Tacna
  • To strengthen PMP’s capacity to negotiate and implement new and innovative agreements with public/private service providers to facilitate healthcare access for women in rural areas

Highlights to Date: Peru

  • 3 mobile clinics specially designed and equipped with materials for all types of dental work (cleaning, fillings, extractions, etc.) and gynecological consultations (the buses even have ultrasound machines) travel to remote communities that lack access to health services.
  • Other specialists are brought in according to demand observed in each village (e.g. if a lot of heart problems are found then the next time it travels the clinic brings a cardiologist to the village).
  • Prior to the arrival of the buses, microcredit clients, in their group meetings, receive training on important health topics (e.g. brushing your teeth, hygiene, anatomy, what is a PAP smear) and are encouraged to value their health and use the medical services.
  • Training is also provided on other important issues like self-esteem, family planning and domestic violence.
  • Other community members receive these educations during health campaigns and can also access the services on the clinics.
  • Clients, many of whom do not speak Spanish, are attended in a culturally sensitive way and in their indigenous languages (Quechua and Aymara).
  • Women and their families still pay for the medical services so that they value them; however they are charged a reduced rate which has been negotiated with the specialists who travel with the clinics. This reduced rate can be negotiated because of the numbers of patients the specialists are able to attend.

Check the media page for interviews about this project. Click here to find out how you can support this project.

This project is being undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian International Development Agency.