Community

Helping the Chinchero Hospital in Cusco

Posted: September 18, 2020

Peru’s Context

COVID-19 has been particularly hard in Peru due to several reasons. First, Peru has a weak health system that could not contain the magnitude of the coronavirus pandemic. Besides, the informal sector represents 70% of the Peruvian economy, which made it difficult for people to stay home and comply with all quarantine measures. The crisis has deepened the social inequalities that have not been taken care of for years and created further stress on the population who is looking to survive.

The Peruvian government has created different mechanisms to fight the coronavirus pandemic. From bonuses to specific groups of people, food donations through local governments, and a massive display to enlarge the capacity of hospitals. However, it seems these new policies cannot reach the powerful consequences COVID-19 has brought to the Peruvian population. The pandemic has put a light on social issues that the State has not been able to address years ago while Peru was thriving in economic growth. Nowadays, we can only hope for the whole society to come together and help wherever possible.

GVI and Chinchero

GVI Peru works in the Chinchero district, serving the 16 communities in the Piuray micro basin. Chinchero is located in the Urubamba province part of the Cusco Region. The district has 42 sectors and communities that gather a total of 12,455 inhabitants. Chinchero has one main hospital plus small health centers in three communities. Most severe cases are transferred to the main hospital in Cusco as the Chinchero hospital does not have enough medical supplies and equipment to treat people. According to the local government, 49.1% of the population does not have health insurance, either public or private. Other relevant data is that 47.4% of the population has SIS, 2.1% has ESSALUD, and 1.4% has other systems. *SIS and ESSALUD are public health insurance.

Most of the population is already at a disadvantage without proper health insurance, and a hospital that can’t contain the struggles COVID-19 has caused the past few months. Still, we can make a difference. It’s the time when we can support all the efforts to equip the Chinchero hospital with enough resources to serve rural communities. GVI is supporting Centro Bartolomé de las Casas and other local stakeholders like the church and local government in a campaign to obtain funds. The funds will buy oxygen and medical supplies for the Chinchero hospital. During the last weekend of August, community members all around Chinchero came together to support these fundraising efforts. Besides, different enterprises donated significant amounts to continue the work of the hospital. Partnerships and fundraising efforts are the key actions that will help us during these difficult times.

You can help!

You might think because you are on the other side of the world, you can’t support it. Well, we got the right solution for that! We opened a fundraising campaign in the Global Giving platform so anybody can donate! Even the smallest amount is worth saving a life in Cusco. Your donation can buy a medical oxygen balloon or medical supplies like masks, gloves, etc. that could help the underserved communities in Chinchero. Help us to save lives in Cusco and continue our work in community development.

Donate here!