Read More About Peru:
Emergency Response and Disaster Relief
In August of 2007, an 8.0 magnitude earthquake struck Peru's central coast, killing 514 and injuring 1,090. Pisco, the closest city to the epicenter, suffered massive losses of life, personal injury, and losses of property, as 80% of the city's buildings were destroyed. In surrounding areas, the damage to road infrastructure left mountainous regions without access to food supplies, health care, and hygiene items.
The toll on the health care sector was devastating; four hospitals were completely destroyed and 16 others significantly damaged. Immediately following the earthquake, the hardest hit region was operating on only 10% of its medical services capacity.
Within three days of the earthquake, an AmeriCares emergency response team was in Lima coordinating the distribution of medicines and medical supplies from the Stamford warehouse. AmeriCares and VIDA were the first private NGOs to deliver aid into Pisco. The AmeriCares airlift delivered crucial medical aid including antibiotics, analgesics, and wound care products. In total, AmeriCarse delivered more than $2.8 million worth of critical medical aid to help survivors of the Pisco earthquake.
Medical and Humanitarian Aid
Since 1989, AmeriCares has delivered more that $153 million worth of medical aid and humanitarian relief to Peru. AmeriCares partners with local organization Volunteers for Inter-American Development Assistance Peru (VIDA Peru).
VIDA Peru is a privately funded non-governmental organization (NGO) that supports public health establishments throughout Peru by distributing medicines and medical supplies. Since 1996, VIDA Peru has helped put AmeriCares aid into the hands of the people most in need. At a 2006 gala event in Lima, VIDA honored AmeriCares for our more than 10 years of support.
AmeriCares delivers critical medicines, medical supplies and other aid to hospitals, clinics, nutritional centers, medical outreach brigades, children's homes and homes for the elderly. The wide variety of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnostics, medical devices and supplies, and nutritional supplements help healthcare providers better serve their patients.
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