COVID-19 Pandemic in Peru - send medical supplies

As of March 14, 2021, Peru has reported 1,407,963 cases of and 48,841 deaths from COVID-19. The introduction of a new South American variant has caused cases to spike again after two months of dramatic declines.   Although Peru has built out its ICU capacity, the healthcare system is bracing for another crisis as the spike in cases ultimately leads to a spike in hospitalizations and sadly deaths.

During the pandemic, VIDA has made over 28 containers and air lifts to Peru. In addition to the basic medical supplies and millions of dollars in medicine, VIDA has also shipped 150 ICU beds. This is addition to the over 500 beds we have shipped over the past three years. To illustrate just how important VIDA's work in Peru is to the health care system, Peru only has roughly 1,700 ICU beds for 35 million people. VIDA accounts for roughly 25% of the ICU beds in Peru, a remarkable data point for one nonprofit.

Needless to say, we need to do more. We are prepping two more containers for shipment in March that will carry various medical supplies and equipment including 40 more beds. Your support makes these shipments possible. The only potential challenge to making these shipments in March is the backlog in shipping space. VIDA is hopeful the containers will land a spot on one of the ocean freighters.

The people of Peru greatly appreciate you continued generosity in helping Peru through this crisis.

As of November 14, 2020 Peru has registered 932,650 positive COVID-19 cases and 35,106 deaths. While Peru has been hailed as the most responsive country in Latin America to the crisis due to its testing and lockdown, sadly Peru’s per capita casualties and fatalities are among the highest in the world. In spite of Peru’s increase in per capita GDP over the past 30 years, the shortage of doctors, the poor healthcare infrastructure compounded by the reality that 60% of the population that works in the informal economy. For the majority of Peruvians social distancing is not an option. They must go out of their modest lodgings to earn enough money to pay for food and to keep a roof over their head. As a result, the crowded streets and markets are a breeding ground for the virus to spread. However, the daily have fallen shortly due to improving weather and the reality that the country has been hit so hard. Entering spring in the southern hemisphere is a window of opportunity for Peru to build out their infrastructure before a potential second wave hits next fall. 

Sadly, plagued by extreme poverty and devastating natural disasters, Peru lacks the resources to help them. This is how VIDA and you can help. To that end, VIDA has made 24 shipments carrying over $15 million in aid with hundreds of hospital beds, stretchers, exam tables along with hundreds of walkers and thousands of crutches as well as thousands of boxes of medical supplies including PPE and respiratory equipment and supplies to combat the virus.

A major cost in this project is the ocean freight from Oakland to Callao. GlobalGiving donors play an important role in making these shipments possible. We hope you can join us in our mission to bring aid to Peru’s most vulnerable communities.

As of July 15, 2020 Peru has registered over 340,000 positive COVID-19 cases and over 12,600 deaths. While Peru is hailed as the most responsive country in Latin America to the crisis due to its testing and lockdown, sadly Peru only trails Brazil in the number of casualties and fatalities. In spite of Peru’s increase in per capita GDP over the past 30 years, the fragility of that growth is being displayed among the 60% of the population that still works in the informal economy and who lack access to healthcare. The large number of Peruvian citizens who work in the informal economy makes it nearly impossible for them to comply with the lockdown, social distancing and secure PPE.

In order to eat and keep a roof over their head, they must venture out into the streets to earn a small amount of money. Most have lost their meager daily wages due to the lockdown. A growing number of Peruvians are sleeping in the streets waiting for a solution. Many of the clusters are near airports and squares in makeshift shelters they lack the basic hygiene to prevent the virus. Also, crowding is frequent in the campsites, so it is hard to comply with social isolation measures. Faced with this crisis, caravans of thousands of people are trekking on the highways carrying their little ones and all of their belongings trying to make it back to their remote towns of the Andes, Amazon and desert coast where they can find shelter and food. Sadly, plagued by extreme poverty and devastating natural disasters, these towns lack the resources to assist them when they arrive and the travelers are often the source of new outbreaks in these remote regions. The convergence of poverty and the pandemic has created a humanitarian and health crisis that the Peruvian healthcare system is ill equipped to address.

This reality raises the need to help build the healthcare infrastructure. To that end, VIDA has shipped 7 containers carrying as thousands of boxes of medical supplies including PPE and respiratory equipment and supplies to combat the virus. In addition VIDA has sent 200 plus ICU hospital beds, as well as stretchers, exam tables along with hundreds of walkers and crutches. A major cost in this project is the ocean freight from Oakland to Callao. GlobalGiving donors play an important role in making these shipments possible. We hope you can join us in our mission to bring aid to Peru’s most vulnerable communities.