Peru

The Griffin Center for Health and Human Rights organized and funded a trip for a three-person team to travel to Lima, Peru to study the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder among earthquake survivors.

On August 15, Peru’s deadliest earthquake in more than 35 years rumbled in the sea killing over 500 people and leaving more than 800 people with serious injuries. Hitting at an 8.0 magnitude, the quake seriously damaged more than 16,000 homes and left many towns and cities without electricity. Transportation was also disrupted leaving many people stranded with no where to go.

Within a day, a three-person team was formed and through GCHHR funds, the team was on their way to Lima. When they arrived they met with local Red Cross workers who put them in contact with Peru’s Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health officials arranged transportation for the team to travel to the site.

Medical care was provided to those in need and in total the team saw more than 200 patients. Vaccinations were also provided to women and children. While treating the patients, the team also conducted surveys among the survivors collecting research data on post-traumatic stress disorder.

The team stayed a total of two weeks and came back with new research data on post-traumatic stress disorder among the earthquake survivors. Volunteers are currently planning a future trip to Peru to finish their research.

When he arrived back from Peru, Dr. Javier Cairo said this of his experience there:

“Some of these people lost all their goods. More than half of the city had been destroyed. We wanted to help, not be an obstacle to the people there. We went to provide medicine and the necessities of medical care. We saw like 200 people. We went to help the people and I think that’s what we did.”