Improving Community Health in Peru

Foundation Visits Plan International Partner Project

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"I am about to leave the small health centre, when one of the local nurses is suddenly calling me back in. We came here, to the rural community in the middle of the Peruvian Amazon forest, to learn more about a project the Astellas Global Health Foundation is supporting to improve the prevention of vector-borne diseases like malaria. Now, the nurse points at the organic and deet-free anti-repellent in my hand, which I have brought with me from England, and starts laughing: “This will not protect you against any mosquito here.” She hands me a small sachet with a local anti-repellent and smiles. This will do for the day. I feel humbled. Being protected against the feisty little insects, which transmit not only malaria, but also dengue and other life-threatening diseases, doesn’t seem as easy as I have anticipated – in particular not here, in one of the most remote areas of the planet.

Since 2023, the Foundation has partnered with Plan International to reduce the risk of critical illnesses from hydrometeorological emergencies in Peru’s northern Loreto region. Community health facilities are being rehabilitated, local people are trained as community health volunteers and walk from door to door to educate people about water- and vector-borne diseases, and flood-risk response plans are drafted and implemented: The mighty Amazon river is close by, it is the lifeline for any community here, but also a dangerous threat.

Freshly wrapped in the lovely chemical scent of the local anti-repellent, I continue my way to another village supported by the project, together with Foundation Chairman Shingo, our President Angelique, and the amazing team of our partner Plan International. In only two years, the project will directly reach more than 3,600 people in 7 communities, and another 15,700 people will benefit indirectly from the activities. We are about to meet some of them.

Around 20 new community health workers are sitting on wooden benches in the community centre, when we enter the room. They are dressed in bright blue vests, and wear huge hats of the same colour, not only protecting them against the ever-strong sun, but also marking them clearly as the best persons to ask anything about malaria, dengue and leptospira. They are volunteers, selected by the project, and they seem proud of their new task. Right now, they are keen to show us how they educate their fellow people with the help of pictures, posters and pamphlets. We learn about the different mosquitos, how to recognize them and what particular disease they transmit, we hear about simple but effective ways to be protected against them – other than my new, smelly anti-repellent – but we also learn about a simple but well-thought about plan for how to reach every single house and every single family in the village through home visits.

Afterwards, we walk on dusty paths to the local health centre, which is clearly in need of rehabilitation. While the consultation room for pregnant and lactating mothers seems – well – alright, the emergency room leaves me in shock. Two old benches are cramped against the walls, and deteriorating shelves hold whatever is necessary for basic emergency treatments. I would love to say that this room has seen better days, but has it really? There is clearly a need – and a reason why Plan International has selected this community to participate in the project. Every dollar given, and every dollar spent on this health centre, is a dollar very well invested.

We finish our visit back in the community hall, and the Mayor thanks us for the support and for coming here today. I take a last look at the community volunteers while we walk back to our cars: They are facing a huge task in working towards a better and healthier community, here in the little village only a stone throw away from the waters of the Amazon river. But I am confident that they can do it with persistence and the great enthusiasm we have seen today. I get into the car with a smile on my face."

Stephan Beschle, Secretary, Astellas Global Health Foundation