The primary target group of the Diospi Suyana Hospital
One could spend a long time debating the causes of poverty among the Quechuas. The fact is that their way of life is reminiscent of a rural agricultural structure of yesteryear. Every four years, the descendants of the Incas are discovered by politicians as votes. The grandiose promises made by the political caste during the election campaign have nothing to do with the realities afterwards. Seven years ago, the government in Lima announced the imminent opening of an airport near Chinchero. Apart from a few concrete ruins, there is still not much to see.
It is striking that many indigenous people deny their origin and state “Mestizo” (mixed race) when registering. They hope that changing their ethnicity will improve their chances of advancement in society. Interestingly, the lifestyle of the Andean people is marketed profitably in the sense of glorified folklore.
Of the 533,000 patient visits to the Hospital Diospi Suyana, the vast majority belong to the Quechuas and a doctor’s appointment in the outpatient clinic of the missionary hospital costs the equivalent of 1 euro. As every person has the same value in the eyes of God, regardless of the size of their bank account, we at Diospi Suyana try to treat all patients and especially the Quechuas with love and respect. /KDJ
