Newmont Mining Corporation

Lima, Peru

About a year ago, Ed Schaefer and Sar McFadden, who are both senior occupational health advisors at Newmont Jundee and registered nurses, received an e-mail from Newmont about Project C.U.R.E.'s need for medical volunteers following the Haitian earthquake. The e-mail was sent to employees worldwide to encourage donations and support of the medical aid organization.

"We saw their Haiti mission was full, but that they were looking for medical volunteers in Peru," explained Schaefer and McFadden. "It immediately sparked our interest. We wanted to participate in the mission so we could use our skills to make a real difference to the lives of truly needy people."

Just months later, they found themselves on a Peruvian-bound jet to experience a journey of a lifetime. For two weeks, they provided critical medical assistance at the Huaycan District Health Clinic on the outskirts of Lima, Peru.

Lima has one of the highest infant mortality rates in Latin America, and struggles to fight tuberculosis, malaria and many fishing-related illnesses. Nearly 60 percent of Peruvian communities do not have access to a health facility and close to one-quarter of the population lives in extreme poverty.

To access public health services, residents must present an identification card proving residency. However, as shanty villages are not formally acknowledged, nor do they have any utilities, much of the populace cannot prove residency.

One Woman's Mission
An Indian-born Franciscan nun, Sister Rita, was sent by the Catholic Church roughly 10 years ago to provide medical services to the Huaycan people. She also is a registered nurse who arrived in Lima speaking no Spanish, no building to operate from and no real knowledge of the Peruvian people or their customs.

With little medical equipment, she set about to treat patients, and raise funds to build a quality health clinic. These funds eventually came in the form of a large donation generated by a visiting Italian priest.

Today, the clinic is three stories high and employs seven full-time staff. It has a small laboratory, pharmacy, radiology facility and a treatment area.

The government does not provide any subsidies, and medical services are provided by committed doctors on an ad-hoc or monthly basis.Charity foundations, such as Project C.U.R.E., augment the services provided when they can.

Rolling Up Their Sleeves
Upon arrival, McFadden and Schaefer were joined by Carrie – a pediatric physician from Arkansas who was 27 weeks pregnant at the time and spoke fluent Spanish – and Stacy, an emergency room nurse from California. Carla Sofia Guerra, from Lima, acted as team leader for Project C.U.R.E. She was invaluable in helping coordinate translators, accommodations, food and transportation.

A packed waiting room of patients, up to 100 a day, greeted the medical team. If they can afford it, patients are charged a fee of 5 soles or about $1.70. Three soles cover the cost of the visiting doctors and 2 soles go toward the cost of operating the clinic. To put that amount into perspective, a street cleaner earns about 200 soles per month or $71.

Along with patients who had common ailments, these medical missionaries attempted to treat patients suffering from a variety of heart-wrenching conditions. It was disappointing at times to be unable to provide basic treatment due to the lack of available medical equipment.

"It was so frustrating to be unable to provide relief that would normally be so readily available at home," Schaefer said. "The patients were grateful of anything we did for them, but we couldn't always get a proper diagnosis due to lack of equipment."

"It was a life changing experience for both of us," Schaefer said. "It is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done."

Support Still Needed
There is a great need for medical equipment and supplies, especially for ophthalmology and gastroenterology services. The clinic only has one blood pressure cuff and no otoscope for ear examinations.

Both McFadden and Schaefer believe that with a small amount of financial input, the clinic could assist even more people. Newmont will match donations. To give, go to www.projectcure.org, click "Donate" and select "Peru Huaycan Clinic."

April 18, 2011