Peru: Policlínico Peruano Americano

RMF Distributes Insect Repellent to Reduce Spread of Disease: Q2 2017

August 01, 2017

Magali M. de Pujalt

Summary of Activities

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 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.

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.

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.

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Results &

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

AM Peru PPA Q2 2017 Niños curiosos

Giving Supplies

Helping Families

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.

AM Peru PPA Q2 2017 Contentas con su repelente

Prevention

Distributing Repellant

The insect repellant was delivered house by house by RMF’s Policlínico Peruano Americano to happy recipients.

AM Peru PPA Q2 2017 Charla Prevencion contra el Denge

Bringing Help

Providing Knowlege and Care

RMF Perú’s team traveled to Pámpano despite the fact that mud and stones covered several sections of the roads, which prevented vehicles from traveling. We managed to visit the town with our team’s doctor and with medicine for distribution, and we held a campaign at a school in the area.

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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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More

Photos

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Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
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Numbers

Served

Direct Beneficiaries

775 Patients

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Success

Stories

Antonela Benancio

Antonela Benancio

9 Years Old

Antonela Benancio is a 9-year-old girl who lives in San Clemente and who does well in her classes at school. Her mother brought her to a doctor’s appointment at the Policlinico because she had severe pain in her index finger on her right hand for two days. She also indicated that the pain started without receiving an injury. At first, Antonela felt a quick stinging, which ended quickly, but the pain remained. After the doctor examined her, Antonela was diagnosed with celulitis of the second finger of the right hand.

Treatment:

  • Naproxen 250 mg, every 8 hours for 3 days
  • Penicillin 250 mg/5 ml, every 6 hours for 7 days

After she finishes treatment, Antonela will have a follow-up within 10 days.

Ms. Quispe Arroyo Emma Rosa

Quispe Arroyo Emma Rosa

40 Years Old

Quispe Arroyo Emma Rosa is a 40-year-old woman and a consistent patient at the Policlinico. This time, she visited the clinic with pain and sharp pangs in her right foot. She had been feeling these symptoms approximately 10 days prior to the visit, for which she was self-medicating. She took penicillin because she saw she was getting an infection. The doctor checked Quispe and noticed that she was getting an ingrown toenail, after which he recommended that the toenail be removed. After the procedure, the doctor told Quispe she needs to wrap her foot daily. The patient was diagnosed with an ingrown toenail in her right root.

Treatment:

  • Cephalexin 500 mg, 1 tablet every 12 hours for 7 days
  • Diclofenac, 1 tablet every 8 hours for 5 days
  • Keterolaco im, 1 tablet after extraction
  • Change the dressing daily for 5 days.
Ms. Isabel Duran

Isabel Duran

48 Years Old

Isabel Duran is a 48-year-old woman. She came to the Policlinico with lumbar and head pain, stinging in her urine, and edema in her lower limb. She also has a history in the clinic. Her job, selling fish in the market of San Clemente, only allows her one day off and requires her to be standing all day and with little access to hygiene services. Isabel Duran was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection.

Treatment:

  • Cephalexin 500 mg, 1 tablet every 8 hours for 14 days
  • Drink 2 liters of water daily.

After treatment is complete, Isabel will wait 5 days and then complete a new urine test.

Ms. Lidia Severiana Huamani Quispe

Lidia Severiana Huamani Quispe

68 Years Old

Lidia Severiana Huamani Quispe is a 68-year-old woman. She came to the Policlinico with a cough producing pleghm, pain in her back and chest, and nasal congestion, symptoms she’d been experiencing for three consecutive days. The doctor performed an exam on her. Due to the fact that Lidia dedicates herself to being a homemaker, she could have experienced a sudden change of temperature during her activites or exposed herself to the morning cold, since it is brisk in San Clemente. After the exam, the doctor diagnosed her with bronchitis.

Treatment:

  • Ceftriaxone 2 g Chlorpheniramine Dexametaxona for 2 days
  • Desloratadine 5 mg, 1 tablet every 12 hours for 10 days

After treatment, the patient will be reevaluated.