A sixteen hour-long expedition

A medical outing to the village of Poltocsa

Early on Saturday just after 4a.m. morning 52 Diospi-Suyana-staff woke up.  An hour later after packing the cars and praying together they started on their 210km journey through the Peruvian mountain world.  With bad weather conditions one needs 4.5 hours to get to Poltocsa.

Just before we arrived the continuous rain thankfully stopped. Four classrooms of the local primary school had been prepared for the stream of patients who could book gynaecological, paediatric, inner-medical or dental appointments.  Despite our narrow time-frame our doctors and nurses treated well over 200 patients.

A team headed by Christian von Rensen and Tibor Minge had prepared a Muppet-Show for the children.  It was so well received that it was performed a second time later in the afternoon!

Dra. Ana Delgado celebrated her birthday, though sadly without the expected musical wishes.  She cut her cake at lunchtime which released energy and determination in the tired helpers.  It goes without saying that our voluntary welfare workers for one year took care of the children: many games were played and lots of laughter was heard.

Upon arriving back late at night in Curahuasi having driven through fog and rain all staff felt in their bones what they had done that day.

Everyone who took part in the day will remember the villagers’ thanks and a string of small, special experiences.

Pastor Marco Acuna delivers a sermon.
Quinoa juice for breakfast.
Patients are queuing.
Our base for the day: Poltocsa Primary School.
A Quechua-Indian carries her baby on her back.
Dr Anne-Rose Müller examines children.
Our dentists had brought their own chair with them.
The Muppet-Show for children and for those young at heart.
The children enjoying themselves.
Roughly 200 warm pieces of clothing were given away.
Dra Ana cuts her birthday cake. She also examined many patients on her birthday.
During a hard day’s work our gynaecologist Dr Jens Haßfeld takes a break. Our best member of staff is guarded by a private dog.
The equipment is being stowed away again.
Dr Martina John runs to the car. A 5-hour car-journey lies ahead of her. “We also want to be examined,” call these Quechua-women.
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