Missionary Appeal: Rural Medicine in Peru

September 4 & 5th weekend begins our annual missionary appeal.  Fr. Jack MacCarthy, O. Praem, M.D. is unable to be with us in person, but Fr. Jerry will be reading a letter from him explaining their medical mission in Peru and the needs they currently have.
Please consider giving to support this mission.  Special envelopes are in your packets, or you can use a plain envelope marked "Mission Appeal".  Donations  can be put in the regular collection at the church entrances or mailed to the parish office.

Learn more about the Norbertine's Medical Mission in Peru

The Napo River in Northeastern Peru flows from the Andes of Ecuador to the Amazon River, 500 kilometers in Ecuador and 700 in Peru. There are two small hospitals serving the indigenous populations of the Napo River. Both are hospitals founded as integral parts of Franciscan Missions. In Peru, Father/Doctor Jack, a Norbertine, and Father/Doctor Mauricio, a Canadian Oblate began practicing medicine in a small 8 bed clinic previously built by a group of Canadian sisters, who established a school and the clinic in the later 1950's.

In 1985 the small clinic became a larger hospital of 36 beds, an operating room, emergency room, dental clinic, pediatric ward, maternity ward and special centers for infectious diseases, pediatrics, and maternity with newborn beds. The Centro de Salud (Health Center) of Santa Clotilde now has official recognition of the Peruvian Health Ministry. Church and state work together to provide primary care to more than 86 villages, mostly indigenous peoples of five different ethnicities.

The staff of the central clinic usually has two full-time, long- term doctors. Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases require the most time and energy. Obstetrics, pre-natal care, deliveries, and c-sections amount for much of the demand, however, traumatic injuries, tropical diseases and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis are frequent.

Specialist physician volunteers are welcomed and needed. The work is done in Spanish with family translators assisting those who only speak their own ethnic language. Our staff of nurses totals more than 30, counting RN's and Practical Nurses.

The days are always long. The nights are quiet and beautiful... usually. However, obstetrics (c-sections) and snake bites often lead the doctor with the "night turn" to call for the experienced. Visiting doctors live on the campus and are always eager to help. Nurses are called in from their home by staff or family members of the special cases. Always, the work is rewarding. The friendship among the whole staff makes the work possible and helps the patients trust the caregivers.

We need to grow and build a new center for x-ray and echographic studies, as well as gastro- and colonoscopy. A new generator is a necessity. The town only produces current for 6 hours per day. Laboratory, laundry and food services all need current during the day. Medical services require current day and night.

During the past 5 months, the COVID-19 pandemic affected many. Nearly 4,000 persons were examined and tested. 1,407 tests were positive resulting in only 3 deaths. Early recognition and care helped contain the outbreak. Families live in large thatched roof dwellings. They build an elevated floor with no interior walls, but at night, the parents sleep under their own mosquito net. Adolescent children sleep under their own bed nets, boys in one corner and girls in another. Grandparents sleep with the small kids under their nets and/or other nets close to them. It is poor, but no urban crowding, with plenty of fresh fish, wild meats, vegetables from their garden, bananas, melons and other fruits complete the diet and help keep the transmission of the virus down to manageable levels.

Your generous giving has helped for years. St. Norbert Abbey maintains a special account which is dedicated to the Medical Mission. Your gifts are guaranteed to go directly toward service to the rural poor. We are thankful for your help, and always, you are remembered in our prayers.
 

Thank you,

Fr. Jack MacCarthy, 0. Praem., M.D.

St. Norbert Abbey

De Pere, WI 54115