Peru: Policlínico Peruano Americano
RMF Staff Members Collect Supplies for Distribution: Q1 2017
May 01, 2017
Magali M. de Pujalt, RMF Perú, Executive Director
Summary of Activities
On August 15, 2007, Pisco, Perú experienced a deadly earthquake: 7.9 on the Richter scale. Over 500 people died, 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 many people were in need of medical attention.
Real Medicine Foundation’s team was deployed to Perú on October 12, 2007 in an effort to assist those in need. The site of the RMF clinic is in San Clemente, Pisco. San Clemente is the poorest district of Pisco and an overwhelming majority of people cannot afford to pay for health services. In addition, outreach programs have been initiated to address the health needs in remote and impoverished areas around San Clemente and Pisco. RMF’s clinic, Policlínico Peruano Americano, provides 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. The clinic places strong emphasis on prevention and education, and this is evident in all facets of the clinic’s operations.
Since December 2016, northern parts of Perú have been affected by natural disasters, such as mudslides, heavy rains, and overflowing rivers. Each day, the devastation increased and was uncontrollable for the inhabitants of northern Perú. In mid-February 2017, the floods reached the central zone of Perú, and several districts of the capital city of Lima and Ica were also affected. This climatic phenomenon is the coastal “niño.” The season was extreme, leaving 107 dead, more than 160,000 without homes or places to go, and 1,000,000 affected. The flooding and landslides also damaged many kilometers of roads, destroyed hundreds of bridges, and damaged many farming areas, destroying crops.
Primary Objective
The primary objective of our project is to bring long-term, quality healthcare to the earthquake victims who lost their homes, possessions, and in many cases, loved ones.
Full Report
Results &
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Supply Distribution
Friends Helping Friends Helping Friends
RMF Perú’s team members collected mattresses, bedding, furniture, chairs, tables, food, and drinking water among their families and friends, and distributed these supplies to families in affected areas, particularly La Tinguiña, a sector in Ica.
Ophthalmology Campaign
4 Free Operations
During the ophthalmology campaign for examination of cataracts in people over 60 years of age, we attended 35 patients, of which 4 were selected for a free operation, to be carried out by Canadian doctors in a PAMS mission at the Hospital San Juan de Dios in Pisco.
2 New Doctors on Staff
Dr. Vladimir and Dr. Alarcon
Dr. Vladimir came to work part-time with us in the month of January. In February, Dr. Vladimir changed his work schedule due to his obligations in the health center, serving only three days a week. That is why we hired another doctor who started in March. Dr. Alarcon works with us full-time. Now that we have Dr. Alarcon on staff, we were able to resume ultrasound services.
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.
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Photos
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Success
Stories
Ustreverta Vera
Age 54
Ms. Ustreverta Vera attended RMF’s clinic, Policlínico Peruano Americano. After triage, we found her blood pressure to be 180/70, so we consulted our doctor. He indicated that she be given sublingual captopril and that a new reading be taken after 20 minutes. The second reading showed her blood pressure reduced to 150/70. Then Ms. Ustreverta Vera had a consultation with the doctor. She explained the reason for her visit. She said she has hypertension and diabetes, and for the last 5 nights, she has had sweating, anxiety, and cold chills, which go away when she eats something. She said she was following no treatment plan at the time. The doctor, knowing the patient was fasting, did a glucose test. The results showed 242 mg/dl, and Ms. Ustreverta Vera was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.
Treatment:
- Glibenclamida 3 times a day, before meals
- Losartan twice daily, morning and night. (Treatment for a month.)
Romero Mallma Florentino Rodolfo
Age 46
Mr. Romero Mallma Florentino Rodolfo is from Chanchamayo. He currently lives in San Clemente, where he has a carpentry workshop. He came to the Policlínico Peruano Americano because of strong ear pains, as well as sweating and burning feet. He was concerned because he had already received treatment at another health center, but his symptoms continue. The doctor examined him, and tests were conducted for analysis of his blood count, cholesterol, triglycerides, urine, creatine, and urea. The patient was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, diabetes, and otitis.
Treatment:
- Cleaning of the ears
- Ceftriaxone 1 g: 2 grams every 24 hours, for 5 days intravenous
- Metformin 850 mg, glibenclamide 5 mg, 1 tablet every 24 hours for a month
- Gabapentin 300 mg: 1 tablet every 24 hours for 30 days
- 5 drops of neomycin-polymyxin B-fluocinolone to affected ear every 8 hours for 7 days
After one week of treatment, Mr. Romero Mallma Florentino Rodolfo returned to the Policlínico Peruano Americano for a follow-up appointment, feeling more relieved of the symptoms. The doctor found good results for the treatment.
Ubaqui Huamancha Maribel
Age 49
Ms. Ubaqui Huamancha Maribel was born in Chincha and had immigrated to San Clemente. She came to the Policlínico Peruano Americano with redness and sudden heat in the skin of her face and neck, as well as visible blood vessels (telangiectasia). Her skin tends to be very sensitive and dry, rough with or without scales, and with burning or a burning sensation. She has felt the symptoms gradually for 15 days, and commented that she works exposed to sunrays and does not apply sunscreen or any cream. Ms. Ubaqui Huamancha Maribel was diagnosed with rosacea.
Treatment:
- Metronidazole 500 mg, 1 tablet every 12 hours for 1 month
- Rozex cream 3 times a day
Ana Antonia Rivera Palma
Age 77
Ms. Ana Antonia Rivera Palma is a woman with high cholesterol, and she has been attending the Policlínico Peruano Americano since 2009. She explained that when she was young, she worked as a household employee and had a lot of contact with water. As a result, she started to have pain in her hands, and a doctor diagnosed her with arthritis in 1985. She came to the Policlínico Peruano Americano because she had a lot of pain in her joints since she stopped treatment 5 months ago. The doctor suggested that when she finishes the treatment, she should return for a follow-up. Ms. Ana Antonia Rivera Palma’s diagnosis is arthritis.
Treatment:
- Calcium carbonate every 24 hours for 1 month
- Diclofenac 75 mg dexamethasone 4 mg every 12 hours for 2 days
More Reports on: Policlínico Peruano Americano Archive
Country Page: Peru
Initiative Page: Policlínico Peruano Americano
