We are now a year out from our last surgical campaign. The feeling is bittersweet. Throughout the past year, much of our organization has had to adapt like every other global organization. It has been a year of challenges but also one filled with blessings. While we are not yet able to resume travel our mission and vision continue to manifest themselves in the community of Pucallpa. To read a great update on everything we have accomplished during the COVID era I would encourage you to read Scalpel’s Edge, issue 32.
We are in a unique situation where vaccine rollouts are increasing stateside but uncertain in Peru. Currently, in the United States overall infections, deaths, and hospitalizations are trending downward. The opposite is happening for our Peruvian counterparts. Peruvian President Francisco Sagasti continues to extend the state of emergency, re-evaluating the status every two weeks. Under the current alert system, there are three levels each with its own set of restrictions based on the number of COVID cases. Lima and surrounding areas are currently under strict lockdown, while Pucallpa continues to operate under limited capacity while advising mask-wearing and social distancing. Our long-time partner in Pucallpa, Hospital Amazonico, continues to be one of the few open hospitals that are accepting patients but is not currently performing any elective procedures. We are eager to take a surgical team as soon as possible but also want to act prudently to protect the local community as well as our volunteers. Our leadership is prayerfully hopeful that we can get a small medical team down to Peru sometime in 2021.
Meanwhile, we are continuing our efforts to uplift and support the Peruvian medical team on the ground. We have conducted a virtual case discussion with Peruvian surgeons and expect to host another virtual seminar soon. One-year post-op patient follow-ups are currently underway, and plans are coming together for the future expansion of the Scalpel medical campus in Peru. We are thankful for the generous support of our donors who make our work possible. Please consider praying for our organization to be able to resume orthopaedic campaigns as soon it is wise and safe to do so. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to me personally via email or through phone at 305-922-4486.
