Peru: Policlínico Peruano Americano
RMF Clinic Continues Strong at New Location: Q3 2016
September 30, 2016
Magali M. de Pujalt, RMF Perú, Executive Director
Summary of Activities
RMF’s clinic, Policlínico Peruano Americano, helps to relieve strain on the existing health infrastructure in the communities we are serving. In addition, the philosophies adopted at the clinic place strong emphasis on education and prevention. Not only are patients being treated for their illnesses, but they are being educated as to why they are sick and how they can prevent sickness in the future. By taking this approach, we are setting ourselves apart from other health options in the area and identifying ourselves as a leader in the medical community.
The medical community is also being further educated in specialties such as OB/GYN topics and HIV/AIDS, so health services as a whole can be improved in the area.
We work alongside many different local organizations. Since RMF helps these organizations meet their goals, they in turn help us realize our goals, and a much wider array of community services can be offered more effectively. This follows the RMF motto of “Friends Helping Friends Helping Friends.”
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Helping Those in Need
Quality Medical Services Provided
- Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
- Women´s Health
- General Family Medicine
- Geriatrics
- Pharmacy
- Nursing Station / Triage
- Prevention and Education
- Dental
Specialized Services
Once Each Month
We are providing additional, specialized services, such as cardiology, traumatology, and gastrology. There was another campaign on September 16th, this time focused on ophthalmology. The campaign benefitted 37 adult patients, providing vision exams, treating cataracts, and checking eye pressure.
PAMS-RMFP Medical Mission
Changing Lives
The PAMS-RMFP Medical Mission was held on August 30th and 31st, and September 1st. In three days, we saw 261 patients. We provided medicine free of charge in addition to the 233 laboratory tests.
Click this link to learn more about this year’s PAMS Medical Mission
Background
& Objectives
Background
On August 15, 2007, Pisco, Peru experienced a deadly earthquake: 7.9 on the Richter scale. Over 500 people died, more than 37,000 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. Real Medicine Foundation’s team was deployed to Peru on October 12 in an effort to assist those most 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 of people 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.
Objectives
- Treatment of acute and chronic illnesses at our urgent care center, “Policlínico Peruano Americano.”
- To provide all basic health services for free. To promote co-responsibility and sustainability, the clinic requests a minimal fee for specialty services, such as lab work and ultrasounds, and offers wholesale prices for medication. Patients who cannot afford minimal fees or wholesale prices are not charged.
- To improve the comprehensive health of the community through outreach programs, educational programs, and public health initiatives.
- Prevention and health education are strongly emphasized in all facets of the clinic’s operations.
More
Photos
Click to enlarge
Numbers
Served
Total Number of Direct Beneficiaries: 2,104
There are 30,000 people in the immediate district of San Clemente and 125,000 in the city of Pisco. By focusing on education and prevention initiatives, we know that the direct beneficiaries are able to spread the word to their families and community.
Success
Stories
Diana Quijaite
Age 45
Diana Quijaite arrived at RMF’s Policlínico Peruano Americano with pain in her lower abdomen, discomfort when urinating, chills, and a temperature. Ms. Quijaite explained that she had begun having mild symptoms five days before the consultation, but she did not check her temperature and thought the symptoms would pass. Since the symptoms became worse, she came to the clinic.
Ms. Quijaite was given a urine test, with same-day results. The test indicated that she had a urinary tract infection. RMF’s doctor recommended a urine culture as well. Since the results of the urine culture would not be ready for 3 days, Ms. Quijaite was given interim treatment and asked to return in 3 days for her test results.
Ms. Quijaite returned for her test results, and her treatment continued for 4 days. After she completed this treatment, another test was performed after 5 days without medication, and this test yielded negavite results; the infection was gone.
Kimberley Arango
Age 6
Kimberley Arango is a healthy girl who attends school. The school had called her mother, saying that Kimberly was not feeling well; she had a headache and had already been suffering from a persistent cough. When she arrived at RMF’s Policlínico Peruano Americano, Kimberly had a high fever. The doctor ordered that she be given an injection to lower her temperature, in addition to the physical methods used to lower her temperature. Once Kimberly’s temperature had gone down, we examined her and diagnosed acute pharyngitis.
Jeremiah
Age 9
Jeremiah was brought to RMF’s Policlínico Peruano Americano by his mother, Ms. Maria Quispe. Ms. Quispe is a single mother, and Jeremiah is the youngest of her 3 children. Jeremiah arrived at the clinic with hives on his body. He explained that the hives appeared after playing with a cat that had been in their home for 2 days. The child had difficulty speaking, and used signs to communicate with his mother. His mother explained that Jeremiah was a normal child until the age of 5, when he fell from his bed to the floor, hitting the back of his neck. His mother said that after this incident, Jeremiah could not speak.
Ms. Quispe explained further that she is a single mother who supports her children alone, and her 18-year-old is addicted to drugs. Ms. Quispe cannot pay for Jeremiah’s treatment, and he cannot attend school. She does not have a steady job. She takes care of Jeremiah, and when she does find work, she leaves him in the care of his grandmother. The doctor examined Jeremiah and diagnosed him with allergic dermatitis.
The doctor referred Jeremiah for a consultation with a neurologist. Jeremiah’s case requires financial support and guidance for good treatment, and RMF Perú is planning this support.
Noemí
Age 7
Noemí is the youngest of four siblings, and was born on March 11, 2009 in San Clemente. At two days old, she was taken to the emergency room, where she was diagnosed with bronchial pneumonia and had to stay in an incubator for several days.
In 2011, when Noemí was 2 years old, she would try to stand up, but was not able to. Her legs had no strength or stability. Her parents thought that their daughter’s development was normal. As time passed, Noemí’s mother sought medical attention at the “Posta Clínica,” where they began therapy. Noemí responded well to therapy, until her mother was mistreated by a medical professional.
We met Noemí when her mother brought her to RMF Perú because she was having problems with her lungs. Once we learned more about Noemí’s case, we realized that her health problems were not limited to her lungs. We recommended that her mother bring Noemí to the PAMS-RMFP Mission to be examined by Dr. Thomas Gallagher. Dr. Gallagher examined Noemí and diagnosed her with kyphoscoliosis, a congenital deformation of the lower back. He recommended that she be seen immediately by a spine specialist.
Noemí’s mother does not have the economic resources to bring her daughter to a specialist, so RMF Perú’s team stepped in to help. We made Noemí an appointment at the “Clinica San Juan de Dios” in Lima, and we will be taking her to the specialist and helping her mother continue Noemí’s treatment.
More Reports on: Policlínico Peruano Americano Archive
Country Page: Peru
Initiative Page: Policlínico Peruano Americano
