Peru Medical Missions

Peru Overview

Peru Nationality

Peruvian

Ethnic groups

• 45% Amerindian

• 37% Mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white)

• 15% white

• 3% other

Language

Spanish (official) 84.1%

Quechua (official) 13%

Religion

Roman Catholic 81.3%

Evangelical 12.5%

Health Statistics

Maternal Mortality Rate

67 deaths/100,000 live births

Infant Mortality Rate

20.85 deaths/1,000 live births

Life Expectancy

72.98 years

Physician Density

0.92 physicians/1,000 population

Hospital Beds

1.5 beds/1,000 population

Iquitos, Peru

deep in the Peruvian Amazon is the largest city in the world with no road access.

Information for Volunteers

ItineraryFriday, October 17th: Travel Day

10:05 AM -- Depart Denver -- UA flight 756

1:23 PM -- Arrive Houston

3:34 PM -- Depart Houston -- UA flight 854

10:20 PM -- Arrive Lima

Transfer to Hotel Antigua Miraflores

Saturday, October 18th: Travel Day

9:00 a.m. -- Breakfast at hotel

5:05 p.m. – Depart Lima and travel to Iquitos – LAN flight 2376

Transfer to Hotel Victoria Regina

Sunday, October 19th: Organization Day

Surgery Team: Night at Victoria Regina

Community Health and Public Health Team: Night at Explororama Lodge

ItineraryMonday- Friday: Service Projects

Community Health Team travels to villages on the Amazon River

Surgical Team is in Iquitos at Clinica Ana Stahl

Friday- Sunday: Amazon Excursion

Full group departs Friday afternoon for Ceiba Tops

Sunday, October 26th: Travel Day

Afternoon transfer back to Iquitos

5:35 PM -- Depart Iquitos – LAN flight 2383

7:20 PM -- Arrive Lima

11:55 PM -- Depart Lima – UA flight 855

*Denver group remains at airport, Cusco group transfers to Miraflores

Monday, October 27th: Travel Day

9:15 AM -- Arrive Houston – UA flight 1126

10:45 AM -- Arrive Denver

Excursions

Amazon Excursion Cuzco and Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Sunday, October 26th: Travel Day

Transfer to Hotel Antigua Miraflores

Monday, October 27th: Excursion Day 1

12:05 PM-- Depart Lima – LAN flight 2031, Arrive Cusco at 1:25 PM

Transfer to Ollantaytambo

Night at Pakaritampu Hotel

Tuesday, October 28th: Excursion Day 2

AM: Train to Machu Picchu

PM: Train back to Ollantaytambo

Night at Pakaritampu Hotel

Wednesday, October 29th: Excursion Day 3

Morning tour of Ollantaytambo

Afternoon visit to Pisac and llama reserve

Transfer to Cusco

Night at Los Portales Hotel

Thursday, October 30th: Excursion Day 4

Morning walking tour of Cusco

Afternoon visit to Sacayhuaman

Night at Los Portales Hotel

Friday, October 31st: Travel Day

Morning free time

5:55 PM -- Depart Cusco – LAN flight 2042, arrive Lima at 7:20pm

11:55 PM -- Depart Lima – UA Flight 855

Saturday, November 1st: Travel Day

6:25 AM – Arrive Houston

9:15 AM – Depart Houston – United Flight 1126

10:45 AM – Arrive Denver

Participant Requirements and Trip Costs

Participant Requirements

oParticipant Information Form

oParticipant Waiver and Release

oParticipant Authorization Form

o$500 deposit

oColor copy of passport

Time and Cost

Requirements

o The medical mission to Peru lasts 11 days, including travel.

o Ground expenses: $900

o Airfare: $1500- $1800o Denver> Lima: $1250

o Lima> Iquitos: $335.15

o Lima> Iquitos > Cuzco: $653

o Amazon River excursion: $315

o Machu Picchu excursion: $1200

o Spending money and tipping

Expectations of Volunteers

o This is not a vacation

o Pre trip communication and

participation are crucial- your trip

starts now!

o Language and cultural sensitivity

o Remember that you are a

representative of Centura Health

o Fundraising expectations

o Financial expectations

o Once you sign up, you are financially

responsible for your trip costs

o Airfare is nonrefunable

o Excursions are extra and may not be

refundable

Materials, Supplies, and Fundraising

• Vitamins

• Pain relief meds

• Eyeglasses, sunglasses

• Surgical supplies

• What to bring – medical volunteers• Nurses

• Physicians

• What to bring – non-medical volunteers

What to Bring to Peru

o Iquitos is in the Peruvian rainforest, and is typically hot, humid, and rainy year round. Pack light clothes that will dry quickly.

o Short sleeved shirts are ok during the day, but in the evenings long sleeved clothing will help to discourage biting insects.

o Shoes (rather than sandals) are recommended.

o A lightweight rain jacket is a must.

o Cusco is at 11,000 feet and is typically chilly, so a fleece or jacket is recommended for those going on the excursion.

o Other Items

o 1 personal duffle bag with your clothes and supplies for the week

o 1 large duffle which you will carry down full of medical supplies (will be packed at the packing party)

o 1 carry on/day pack with a change of clothes, prescriptions, etc.

You will find a packing list in the Peru Orientation Handbook

Travel Tips and Safety

Safety

o Peru is a relatively safe location, although travelers should always be attentive.

o The U.S. Department of State’s website on international travel is a great resource to explore before your trip.

o Don’t bring along anything that you wouldn’t want to loose, including valuable jewelry, irreplaceable items, and extra credit cards.

o Before you leave, be sure to notify your bank of your travel plans

o It is the responsibility of each participant to have adequate life, health, or other insurance that is necessary for the trip

Health

Vaccinations

o Hepatitis A

o Hepatitis B

o Typhoid

o Yellow FeverRoutine Immunizations: tetanus-diptheria, MMR, polio, varicella

Malaria

o Malaria prophylaxis recommended

o Deet and proper clothing

Medications

Prophylactic treatment for traveler's diarrhea

Bring sufficient quantities of personal prescription medication, antihistamine, antacid, anti-diarrheal’s, antibiotic topical cream, anti-nausea medication

Additional Information

Passport and Visa Requirements

oValid US passport –cannot be within six months of expiration –REQUIRED

oNo visa requirements for most Western countries

oCopy of medical license for all physicians required by Peruvian government

Currency and phone information

• Bring crisp, unmarked, bills

• Changing money

• Ordering in advance through your bank

• Purchasing phone cards in Iquitos

• Using your personal cell phone in-country considerations• Roaming fees

• Incoming texts

• Internet

Additional Information

IRS Information on Charitable Donations

Generally, you can claim a charitable contribution deduction for travel expenses necessarily incurred while you are away from home performing services for a charitable organization.

IRS Publication 526 outlines information on charitable donations. A copy of this document is available in the Orientation Handbook

Insurance

oGHI provides all

participants with

emergency evacuation

insurance. This does not

cover trip cancellation.

oTrip cancellation

insurance is highly

recommended. We

recommend purchasing

this through Travel Guard.

Do’s and Dont’s

DO

Be flexible, excited, prepared, and open to adventure

Research the project and the community

Contribute positively by communicating with your team, understanding the local needs, and fundraising for your trip

Get out of your bubble!!

DONT

Have preconceived ideas, get

married to an outcome, or go

unprepared

Go anywhere ALONE

Go anywhere without notifying

the team leader about your plans

Our Work

GHI’s Work in

Peru

Since 2006, Centura’s Global Health

Initiatives has been working in Iquitos to

provide support to our local partner

hospital, Clinica Ana Stahl, and medical

services to the communities in the

Amazon Basin.

GHI’s Surgical Program

works at the Clinica Ana

Stahl to perform surgeries,

provide education and

training, Improve the surgical

services at Clinica Ana

Stahl. They perform

approximately 20-25

surgeries per trip

GHI’s Community Health

Program travels to villages

along the Amazon where

health camps are

established, this team

serves anywhere from 500-

1000 people per trip

GHI’s Education Program

reaches countless children,

families, and care providers

Surgical Program

Surgical Program

Surgical Program

Community Health Program

Community Health Program

Community Health Program

Community Health Program