Peru: Policlínico Peruano Americano

Project Goal:
To provide long-term comprehensive health assistance to the people in the province of Pisco (pop: 125,000), specifically in the district of San Clemente (pop: 30,000). 

Project Objectives:
– Treatment of acute and chronic illnesses in the urgent care center “Policlínico Peruano Americano”. San Clemente is a very impoverished area and all services are offered free of charge. Much attention is given towards prevention and health education within all facets of the clinic’s operations.
– To improve the comprehensive health of the community through outreach programs, educational programs, and public health initiatives.

BACKGROUND
On August 15, 2007, Pisco, Perú experienced a deadly earthquake…7.9 on the Richter Scale. Over 1,000 people died, 40,000 families were left without homes, and 150,000 people were left without water.  The majority of the health infrastructure was damaged or destroyed in the earthquake and the people were in need of medical attention.  The Real Medicine Foundation team was deployed to Perú on October 12 in an effort to assist those in need. 

The primary objective of our project was to bring long-term free healthcare to the victims of the earthquake who had lost their homes, possessions, and in many cases, loved ones.  The areas most affected were Pisco, Ica, Chincha, Cañete, and Huancavelica.  The site of the RMF clinic is in San Clemente, Pisco.  San Clemente is the poorest district of Pisco and the overwhelming majority cannot afford to pay for health services. In addition, outreach programs have been initiated to service the health needs in the very remote and impoverished areas around San Clemente and Pisco.
 
San Clemente is a very impoverished area and all of the services offered are free.  The clinic places much importance on prevention and education and this is evident within all facets of the clinic’s operations.
 
The new location for the Policlínico Perúano Americano opened its doors on May 19, 2014 on Calle Barrios Altos Nº 426 in San Clemente.  Operating Hours:  7am – 4pm

Results and/or accomplishments achieved during this reporting period:

• In a meeting with the new mayor of San Clemente, it was reported that the previous administration of the municipality did not leave economic resources, but many debts and not to depend on them to extend financial support to our clinic operations as they had previously promised.
• The current mayor is committed to renew the agreement, following the same guidelines as his predecessor.
• We participated in a council meeting, in which we explained the needs of the Policlínico Peruano Americano, such as medicines and economic aid for the livelihood of our patients. Unfortunately we received the same answer previously received by the mayor, but it was pledged to take a closer look at our request in a follow up meeting.
• In the month of April we will receive our IPREDA Certificate.
• We connected with the local radio station to expose our problems with the municipal management to the public of San Clemente. We might look into moving into another district where we get more support for our clinic operations.
• We received an immediate answer from the people of San Clemente which prompted a representative of the municipality to meet with us, documents in hand, to commit to immediate support.

Number served/number of direct project beneficiaries (for example, average number treated per day or       month and if possible, per health condition).
 
Total Number of Direct Beneficiaries: 1,469
 

•  Policlínico Peruano Americano

• Patients seen: 1,469
• Average per day: 27
• New Patients:  160
• Demographics:
  • Male: 587
  • Female: 882
  • <1 years:  77
  • 1 – 5 years:  186
  • 6 – 14 years:  120
  • 15 – 24 years:  100
  • 25 – 39 years:  164
  • 20 – 59 years:  550
  • 60+ years:  272

 Success Stories

Sra. Blanca Ortiz Cordova, 52, was born in Chincha.  She came to our Policlínico Peruano Americano with a headache, a burning sensation while urinating, and abdominal pain. The laboratory results showed a Urinary Tract Infection. She was treated with Ciprofloxacin 100 mg every 8 hours and receovered quickly.  When she returned for a follow up control, our doctor also diagnosed hypertension which he started to treat with Artovastatin, every 24 hours for 30 days, and Captopril 25 mg every 12 hours also for a month. Sra. Blanca was asked to return for another follow up in 30 days.

Ms. Victoria Calderon Juypa, 53, born in Huánuco, came to our Policlínico Peruano Americano, with severe column pain. RMF’s doctor diagnosed her with Lumbalgia, and gave her the following treatment: Diclofenac IM, Dexamethasone, Orfenadrinacada, every 12 hours for 2 days. She recovered well under treatment.  

Sra. Cueto Huamán Carmen, 61, came to our Policlínico Peruano Americano with headache, pain in her column, dizziness and abdominal pain. Afer examination and analysis of her lab results, RMF’s doctor diagnosed her with: dyslipidemia and stomatitis, and started treatment for 10 days with Artovastatina 20mg every 24 hours, and Frutenzima every 8 hours for 5 days; he also recommended and consulted her on a strict diet.

Mr. Delgado, 82, comes from the Napa refugee camp Rudencio, and currently lives in San Clemente with his wife. He presented with continuous abdominal pain of changing intensity with constipation. Our doctor initiated treatment with Hioscina 10 mg every 8 hours for 2 days and Metoclopramida 10mg after each meal for 2 days. Mr. Delgado did much better under treatment.

Estefania Gabriela Coaquira, 1 year old, came to our Policlínico Peruano Americano with her mom, presenting with cough, nasal congestion and sneezing for 3 consecutive days. Our doctor diagnosed Acute Broncitis and initiated treatment with Amoxicillin 250mg/ 5ml, 1.5cm every 8 hours for 5 days, Salbutamol 2mg/ 5ml, 2 drops every 8 hours for 2 days, Paracetamol 100mg/ml, 6 additional drops only when there is pain or fever.

Neyra Ascona Damaris, 12 years old, came to our Policlínico Peruano Americano with her mom, and presented with epigastric pain, and pain in her lungs. She was diagnosed with Hepatitis and Acute Abdominal Pain. Treatment: was initiated with Metoclopramide 10mg every 8 hours for 2 days, and Ranitidine 300mg every 24 hours for 5 days.

Cabrera Valencia Fermina, 67, came to our Policlínico Peruano Americano with pain, dizziness, and nausea. She was diagnosed with uncontrolled Hypertension. Treatment was started with Captopril every 12 hours for a month. She was asked to come in for a follow up visit after completion of one month of treatment.