Machu Picchu, Cusco, Sacred Valley Disaster Relief

Relentless flooding continued to cause devastation in Peru.  El Niño-like storms have drenched the nation, particularly in the north, since December, leading to catastrophic mudslides and flooding. More than 800,000 have been affected with more than 200,000 properties damaged including over 400 hospitals and clinics destroyed.  Roads and bridges have also been destroyed, making relief efforts even more difficult, and will have a devastating long-term impact on the lives of Peru’s most vulnerable populations.

In response to this crisis VIDA has made a total of nine shipments (ocean and air) carrying nearly $10 million in aid.  VIDA has also sponsored three medical missions to the most impacted areas, providing lifesaving care.  The contaminated water has resulted in a dramatic need for antibiotics and other disease prevention interventions. Our efforts have been focused on the regions of Piura, Trujillo and Chosica where VIDA is working with our partners and the government to help rebuild the healthcare infrastructure.   The government is dedicating transportation resources to transport the aid to the impacted communities and VIDA is ramping up our efforts.

To that end, VIDA is scheduled to make eight more shipments by sea to Peru over the next 12 weeks.  These shipments will contain medical supplies and equipment along with medicine.  Support of the Global Giving community will go directly to the transportation costs of these shipments.

VIDA and our beneficiaries thank you for your continued generosity.

VIDA’s relief efforts continue to expand across  Peru’s Andean Region.   Over the past three months, VIDA has secured four shipments of medicine to Peru, including Cuzco, Ayacucho and Arequipa.  VIDA has partnered with the Ministry of Health to distribute this life saving medicine through an extensive network of clinics and hospitals that serve Peru's poorest citizens.

Access to safe drinking water remains a challenge in the poorest districts of Peru and is a source of chronic infections.  This large donation will benefit thousands of patients - preventing disease and illnesses. We are also supplying the dedicated doctors and nurses who volunteer with our Puente de Vida program. These caregivers bring supplies and medicine to the remote villages surrounding these urban centers, and represent some of the poorest communities.

We are also sending two containers full of supplies and equipment in February 2017 that will be distributed to the Andean region. Thousands of crutches and walkers, along with wheelchairs, beds and exam tables will help build out the regions healthcare infrastructure.  Included in the shipment is a state of the art portable automated refractor which is a computer-controlled machine used during an eye examination to provide an objective measurement of a person's refractive error and prescription for glasses or contact lenses. Along with thousands of frames and lenses, this donation will provide the gift of 20/20 site.

We thank all of our donors for choosing VIDA, therefore making our life saving mission possible.

Links:

• ABC News Video on VIDA Peru

Hello Global Giving donors

You might think the Sacred Valley region has recovered since the floods but our efforts are ongoing and the need is deep.

A large shipment of primarily antibiotics has been delivered into the Sacred Valley region in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health has an extensive network of clinics and hospitals that serve Peru's poorest citizens.

Access to safe drinking water remains a challenge in the poorest districts of Peru.  This large donation will benefit thousands of patients - preventing disease and illnesses. We are now in a postion of getting ahead of a disaster in terms of preparedness.

We are supplying the dedicated doctors and nurses who volunteer with our Puente de Vida program. These are micro clinics established in remote areas - far from hosptials.

During an annual year we ship an impressive 50+ container ships packed with hospital equipment a year to Latin America.

In this way - we are prepared year round for disasters. Capable of supplying emergency relief efforts on a daily basis.

We thank all of our donors for choosing VIDA, therefore making our life saving mission possible.

Muchos Gracias

We thank you for your support as we continue to aid remote regions of Peru impacted by various natural disasters.

We are all familiar with the impact of El Nino on the weather patterns in the United States.  What many of us forget is that El Nino originates off of the coast of Peru.  Sadly, a strong El Nino reeks havoc on Peru's weather.  The region impacted the greatest is the Andean, including The Sacred Valley, Cusco, Ayacucho and Arequipa.  This year's El Nino has resulted in devestating flooding that has not only destroyed households and transportation routes, but has also destroyed agriculture.  The loss of housing, food and income will be putting a great stress on Peru's most vulnerable population.

To address the immediate issues of food insecurity and the coming cold mountain winter, VIDA is shipping 8 tons of soup which will be distriubted throughout the Andean region.  In addition, VIDA Peru will be including 2,000 care packages containing blankets and sweaters in collaboration with a Peruvian textile company. 

The shipment will also include medical supplies and equipment and over-the-counter cold medicine.  This shipment will be followed by two additional shipments in July 2016 carrying medical supplies and equipment.

ps - if anyone is living in the Bay Area and would like to volunteer sorting donations - check us out at vidausa.org.

Hello wonderful supporters of VIDA!

We thank you for the past and the future as we continue to aid remote regions of Peru impacted by various natural disasters.

In the spring the rivers rise and create all kinds of maladies and accidents in the Sacred Valley.

We work with a variety of hospitals and small clinics -  providing hospital beds, exam tables and other much needed equipment and supplies. We partner with Peru’s Ministry of Health and generous transportation and logistics by Otis McAllister Inc.to bring medical aid to benefit thousands of families in the region all year long.

Thank you for making this unique and impactful meidcal relief program possible through your donations.

Please consider providing monthly donations - even $10 a month goes along way in our programs.

Patti Mangan

VIDA BOARD MEMBER

ps - if anyone is living in the Bay Area and would like to volunteer sorting donations - check us out at vidausa.org.

Links:

• Find out more about our efforts!