1-844-633-5433

Urban Health in Peru

 

As urban populations continue to grow globally, there is an increasing need to focus on urban health. Metropolitan areas generally offer a more prosperous setting with greater health care, education, and economic prospects. Given their size and infrastructure, cities can often deliver better services more efficiently than rural areas. However, population growth and urbanization in many cities have surpassed the local government’s capacity to maintain adequate infrastructure and environmental management. As cities continue to expand, an increasing number of urban residents lack access to basic public services, such as clean water, sanitation, and medical services.

Peru has not remained unaffected by such rapid urbanization. In fact, the percentage of the total Peruvian population living in cities has increased from 47% in 1961 to 77% as of 2010, and the population of the Lima Metropolitan Area stood at about 8.5 million in 2007. With greater access and proximity to heath care services (10 of Peru’s 16 national hospitals are located in Lima), the move from rural to urban regions has generally proven to be promising for the health of migrants. Indeed, MEDLIFE has encountered a number of families who have come to Lima from the Amazonian or Andean regions of Peru in search of better healthcare. Research has shown that heath indicators in Peru are two to four times better in urban regions compared to rural areas (Table 1). Yet, urbanization is by no means a resolution to improve the health profile of Peruvian residents.

Table 1

 

 

Indicator

 

 

Urban

 

 

Rural

 

 

Child Mortality Rate, 2003-2009

 

 

26

 

 

40

 

 

Percent of births assisted with skilled birth attendant, 2004-2005

 

 

89.1

 

 

42.9

 

 

Chronic malnutrition in children

 

 

9

 

 

40

 

 

Percent of population using improved drinking-water, 2008

 

 

90

 

 

61

 

 

Percent of population using improved sanitation facilities, 2008

 

 

81

 

 

3

 

 

Though urban residents arguably have access to a greater variety of food, the combination of a more sedentary lifestyle and a less healthy diet have resulted in cardiovascular health concerns in cities. According to Peru’s National Survey of Nutritional, Biochemical, Socioeconomic and Cultural Indicators Related to Chronic Degenerative Diseases, urban regions have a higher prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes (Table 2).

Table 2

 

 

Indicator

 

 

Lima

 

 

Jungle

 

 

Coast

 

 

Urban Andes

 

 

Rural Andes

 

 

Percent of population who are overweight

 

 

40

 

 

34.9

 

 

31.7

 

 

32.9

 

 

22.1

 

 

Percent of population with hypertension

 

 

11.6

 

 

9.1

 

 

11.2

 

 

5.2

 

 

7.2

 

 

Percent of population with diabetes

 

 

4.6

 

 

2.5

 

 

2.5

 

 

0.7

 

 

0.5

 

 

Urbanization produces accompanying health challenges in Peru: the growth of cities is often accompanied by the growth of slums. With the great influx of rural residents into Lima, a number of pueblos jóvenes, or shantytowns, have sprung up on the outskirts of the city. Characterized by high rates of poverty, inadequate and haphazard housing conditions, and a lack of clean water and sewage lines, these slums house at least 30% of the Limean population. This growth results in overcrowding, insufficient resources, and deficient hygiene — often leading to the progression of preventable diseases into chronic illnesses.

MEDLIFE works primarily in the pueblo joven of Pamplona Alta, where over 20,000 Peruvians live in conditions of extreme poverty. Over the past year and a half, we’ve brought Mobile Clinic services to thousands of residents seeking medical care, in addition to completing 20 small infrastructural and developmental projects. While the Peruvian Ministry of Health hasn’t yet been able to extend adequate services to recently populated slums like Pamplona Alta, MEDLIFE hopes to continue to bridge the gap until the local and national governments have sufficient resources to serve their populations, and we look forward to working on shared projects to promote the Ministry of Health’s programs.

With an urbanization rate of 1.6% in Peru and an annual slum population growth rate of 3% in Lima, health effects of urban population growth will only continue to rise if more aid isn’t delivered to the pueblos jóvenes. City governments need to first recognize and then establish and maintain effective programs to improve urban living conditions and cope with the increasing urbanization, especially with the growth of slums. Though Peru’s Ministry of Health established the General Directorate of Environmental Health (DIGESA) in response to Peru’s expanding population and rapid urbanization, environment health problems have exceeded DIGESA’s abilities to successfully respond. While some NGOs, like MEDLIFE, provide aid to assist with the consequences of this rapid urbanization, there remains a great deal of work to be done. It is essential that MEDLIFE continues to work with and support local governmental efforts, in order to help Peru itself deliver a lasting, sustainable solution to its healthcare deficiency.

Archives

Hear it From MEDLIFErs

Testimonial Quote

Reya Seby
Western University

This trip motivated me more to pursue a career in the healthcare field so that I can use my resources to help those who need it the most, similar to MEDLIFE’s mission.

Testimonial Quote

Victoria DiCanio
University of Connecticut

It was most enjoyable to finish the hard work and see how big a difference a group of individuals can make. It was such an amazing experience.

Testimonial Quote

Anita Woo
University of Toronto

I enjoyed the mobile clinics the most, especially the dental and triage portions. I would definitely recommend a MEDLIFE trip, it was a great experience.

Testimonial Quote

David Saff
Maclay High School

The most enjoyable part of my trip was hanging out with the amazing group of kids I was with. I would highly recommend a MEDLIFE volunteer trip to others.

Testimonial Quote

Sydney Sansone
Nova Southeastern University

This trip made everything that I was learning in my public health courses come to life and immersed me in a new culture while also learning about medicine.

Testimonial Quote

Abygail Youmans
College of Charleston

Being involved with MEDLIFE is not like joining another club - its bigger than that. It is about joining a movement that seeks to help change people’s quality of life for forever.

Testimonial Quote

Emi Hofmann
University of Central Florida

Not only was I able to participate in a week long Mobile Clinic, shadowing doctors of all types of specialties including pharmacy, dentistry, gynecology, and more, but I was also able to learn about the culture and visit incredible places.

Testimonial Quote

Julian Takagi-Stewart
University of Toronto

One thing that I really loved about this trip was that MEDLIFE made sure that the volunteers got an understanding of the complexity of issues that lead to underprivileged people in communities outside of the main city

Testimonial Quote

Hannah Van Hofwegen
University of Ottawa

Whether it was basketball with the local kids, assisting the doctors, talking with families, building washrooms, holding babies, or spending time with the people who were on the SLT with me, this was an amazing opportunity that I would do over and over again.

Testimonial Quote

Isabelle Holt
Cornell University

I loved learning about the patients MEDLIFE has followed and how they offer real help to people with chronic/urgent conditions. It is amazing how the organization formed real connections with the communities.

Testimonial Quote

Valerie Lindeborg
Parent

Our family had the privilege of participating in multiple trips with Nick [founder] and his amazing staff. Their expertise made the trips unforgettable while instilling in my boys the fundamentals of good character: selflessness, compassion, and empathy.

Testimonial Quote

Harry Vildibill
University of Georgia

As an aspiring physician, MEDLIFE motivated me to further continue my goal of becoming a doctor. In fact, I enjoyed the Tanzania Service Learning Trip so much that I decided to go on another trip to Cusco, Peru.