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Medical Outreach to Peru
, 3/31/2010
Peru trip
A medical outreach to Peru was made in February 2010.
Arrival on Saturday gave us time to get oriented to Lima with it’s beautiful churches, restaurants and shore line. Most impressive was the cleanliness of the city. There was no trash nor garbage in the streets nor on the sidewalks. Uniformed persons with brooms could be seen going about their business even on Sundays. Store owners could be seen sweeping off their sidewalks. Police and security guard presence was noted by the their being on the streets, usually standing back against a storefront.
One did not see roving gangs of youth or anyone acting disorderly. Nor were there people sleeping on the sidewalks or in doorways etc. One could encounter women asking for money for their child or sick relative.
The people were courteous, humble and friendly. Scads of minibuses plied the streets, which seemed choked with traffic a good deal of the time. Despite the daring traffic maneuvers of drivers, little evidence was there of any accidents.
A novel form of transportation especially as one left the main highways, was the moto-taxi, a motorcycle front with a rickshaw on the back.
Our day started with rising at least by 6:15 AM. Breakfast buffet was available in the lobby. This included eggs, bacon, cold cuts, cheeses, coffee, tea, cereal, cut up local fresh fruit.
Departure time was 7:00 AM.
Before boarding the hotel minibus we had a spiritual reading and recited the rosary in a small courtyard at the back of the hotel.
Our journey from the hotel over about 25 KM took at least 45 minutes.
The destination was a clinic in the town of Huaycan named Saint Luis de Montfort, where the complex included parish offices and church. An adoration chapel was open during the day at the rear of the church.
People would be lined up at the entrance to the property before we arrived.
The sister in charge of the clinic would go out with her staff and pray with the people before we started admitting clients.
All would be given a form for a them to be carried with them during their interviews.
As they came in the front door they would have a glucose test. Several of our group would be there to prick a finger, record the reading on the digital tester and escort the person to their seat holding a piece of cotton between their fingers. Some youth volunteers from Peru assisted in translation as most of our group did not speak Spanish.
Usually we had at least two doctors to attend the clients after this. On two days a Peruvian doctor assisted us. In the interview rooms the people were asked about any medical concerns that they had. Frequently we heard that people had pains all over, and burning sensation on the souls of their feel, as well as a nagging cough. Women were able to have a breast exam. Blood pressure was taken. Recommendations were made concerning diet, medications, and therapy.
The final part of the exam was an echo cardiogram. The apparatus for this looked much like a lap top computer. Our technician for this was the busiest person on the staff as she had to handle everyone that came through the doctors. The glucose test at the door did not take that much time. People were very patient in waiting to be seen, and were very grateful, saying thanks and even giving hugs on the way out.
Our day began around 8:00 AM and finished about 5:30 PM. A minibus would take us back to our lodging. Where we could rest up, get cleaned up and take in dinner, or Mass or both. The church was just two blocks away, at the edge of a nice park, dedicated to John F. Kennedy. There was a daily Mass at 7:00 PM daily which was idea for us to take in after a busy day.
Even though the day was busy with long hours and a difficult commute, the group had a really good time. Working with grateful people on a one to one basis was energizing.
The accommodations were comfortable. The food was good. We had a lot of good laughs mostly at ourselves. The lack of language facility was not a big handicap. The doctors usually had someone who could translate. Others in the group communicated by signs and gestures and used their English hoping that the meaning would get across.
Even the clients would smile and laugh and enjoy whatever light moments occurred during the day.
To me the experience was as good as any retreat and more satisfying than a luxury vacation. People asked: ”When will you be back?” “Will you be back next year?”.
Here is hoping that it can happen again in good time.
by Fr. Charles Kennedy
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