Many of these experiences were shared with MSF teams during our time at the clinic. Now, upon concluding activities there, our teams reflect on the challenges they faced and the stories they heard.
Finding a safe space for care
MSF set up the clinic in front of the land terminal in Aguas Verdes and provided care Monday through Saturday for over a year. Some of our patients were receiving health care for the first time since embarking on their journey.
“People did not have to come to us. Instead, we came to them,” explains Roland Fourcaud, MSF project coordinator. “Our presence on the frontline allowed us to quickly assess people’s needs and provide a tailored health response, while collaborating with the local health system and other actors to coordinate humanitarian aid efforts effectively,” adds Fourcaud.
Our patients included families with young children, women fleeing sexual and gender-based violence at home, single men, and adolescents. The clinic was also available to Peruvians without access to health care and people settled in towns near the Ecuadorian border, such as Tumbes, Aguas Verdes, and Zarumilla.
The most common health issues we observed among people on the move were respiratory infections, diarrhea, and headaches. Many health problems are caused by the stress of the journey itself. “Additionally, many people suffer from muscle or joint pain due to the excessive weight they carry,” explains David Ramirez, a doctor at the MSF clinic. “They usually carry all their belongings in suitcases on their shoulders or carry their children in their arms, which causes the pain.”
For patients settled in Tumbes, the most frequently observed health conditions included diabetes, asthma, hypertension, tuberculosis, and HIV. Patients with acute or chronic diseases were able to control and monitor their condition.
Source link : https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/inside-one-busiest-migration-points-south-america
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Publish date : 2024-01-18 03:00:00
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