The World Health Organization places Peru into the highest mortality strata of all American nations, strata D, which indicates high child and high adult mortality.  

Peru has the highest prevalence of blindness (.5%) and highest prevalence of low vision (2%) in the Americas region. 58.8% of blindness is due to cataracts. Glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and childhood blindness cause 8%, 7%, and 5.3% of the cases, respectively.

Objectives: We aim to provide quality surgical care to the underserved population of Peru, as well as supply local facilities with needed medical materials, equipment, and training to effect a lasting improvement in surgical capability.

Dates: February 3/4 --> February 24, 2006 (plus optional 2-day trip to Machu Picchu)

Location: Pedro P. Diaz Clinic in Arequipa, Peru

Details: Surgical care will focus on two primary areas: ophthalmology and general surgery. By far, the leading cause of preventable blindness in Peru is due to cataracts (58%), so our ophthalmologists will focus on this cause. General surgery will focus on laparoscopic cholecystectomies and hernia repair, with treatment of acute cases as they present

Current: This summer, a team traveled to Peru to choose a final site location among three: Arequipa, Ayacucho, or Madre de Dios. We chose the Pedro P. Diaz Clinic in Arequipa to be our site and determined the greatest needs in the area to be cataract extraction, hernia repair, and laparoscopic cholecystectomies.  We also identified partners in Peru to continue our work in the future, while taking care to adhere to government regulations and protocols.  We wish to provide local healthcare workers with the tools and training they need to effect a long lasting improvement in surgical care.

Mission Schedule:

Week 1 (February 3-11): OR setup, patient screening, public health initiative

Week 2 (February 12-18): surgeries

Week 3 (February 19-24): surgeries

February 24-26: optional trip to Machu Picchu

To Participate:

Click here if you are a general surgery, ophthalmology, or anesthesiology attending.

Note: attendings must be able to participate throughout the 2-week surgical portion of the trip (February 11-24).

Click here if you are a general surgery, ophthalmology, or anesthesiology resident.

Note: residents may participate 1, 2, or all 3 weeks.

Click here if you are a 3^rd or 4^th year medical student.

Click here if you are a nurse.

Questions?

Contact Viveka Boddipalli or Beth Hochman