Peruvian Culture and Wall of Shame
Why was the Wall of Shame built in the first place?
The wall was built to protect rich communities from the wave of migration of poor people displaced by Shining Path terrorism. Rich people were scared the poor people would steal from them.
True or false: Neoliberalism is a policy model that encompasses both politics and economics. It seeks to transfer the control of economic factors from the public sector to the private sector.
True
Name 2 of your responsibilities of the Vitals station (in English and Spanish) and two relevant Spanish phrases. What is one task that is not your responsibility at this station?
Blood pressure (la presion arterial)
Height (talla)
Weight (BMI) (peso)
Temperature (temperatura)
Taking medical and family history will likely not be your responsibility.
What is the purpose of the Education station?
Waiting area for patients to go to other stations. Utilize waiting time to educate people on how to live healthier lives
What do the three mountains in “Moving Mountains” represent?
Healthcare, education, and a safe home
What does it mean for a community to lack a land title, and what services are unavailable to those without a land title?
Lack of land title means that the community has a lack of government accountability, sense of isolation, and environmental degradation. Those without a land title don’t have access to trash, sewage, water, power, education, and healthcare.
What was the impact of colonialism on Peru's culture and economy? (select all that may apply)
Cultural Divisions
A stable government after independence
Foreign debt because of loans taken from World Bank and IMF
Privatization
Institutional change
1 (Cultural Divisions), 3 (Foreign debt because of loans taken from World Bank and IMF), 4 (Privatization)
What must patients take off (if reasonable) before you can measure their height? How do you say this in Spanish?
Shoes and hat; Por favor quitarse su gorra y sus zapatos
Name two of your responsibilities at the Education Station
Set up (chairs, tables, and other necessary equipment)
Engage in conversation (help nurse, distribute brochures, keep track of patient order)
List one of the challenges lockdown measures presented for low-income families in Peru and Ecuador.
Sudden loss of income, lack of water, difficulties within healthcare system
What led to the development of the Shining Path party? What were the consequences of this party?
Cultural divisions caused by colonization led to the insurgency of the Shining Path party. This party’s terrorism caused migration of many people to Pamplona Alta.
What are the negative effects of health PPPs (public private partnerships) in Latin America?
It leads to privatization of healthcare (a state asset) and a lack of transparency and procedures that allow for democratic accountability.
What is the formula and normal range for BMI?
BMI = weight(kg)/height(m)²
Normal range: 18.5 - 24.9
List 3 problems associated with poor oral hygiene
Dental cavities, gum disease, heart disease, cancer, diabetes
What has MEDLIFE done to help during the pandemic?
Serve meals at community soup kitchens and provide food packages for families
What percent of GDP is allocated to healthcare in Peru?
5.5%
How have the IMF and World Bank contributed to the continued oppression of Peru even after its decolonization?
The IMF and World Bank loaned countries money to pay off debt incurred from their colonizers (at huge interest) on the condition that they COULD NOT use any of it to build up their public sectors- especially health care. This is the basis for why many colonised countries have crumbling systems; they were forced to give up on their public sectors before building a foundation, and now, trying to go back and build one, is proving difficult.
How do you measure a baby’s weight? How do you tell the mom that she weighs 60 kilos in Spanish? Translate “por favor, pongase de pie”
Weigh baby with their mom, then subtract the mom’s weight by herself. Usted pesa sesenta kilogramos. Translation: Please stand up.
Oral disease shares a number of risk factors that are common to many other chronic/non-communicable diseases. What are these risk factors and chronic/NCDs?
Risk factors: tobacco, alcohol, diet, stress, hygiene
Chronic and/or NCDs: cancers, respiratory diseases, CVD, obesity, diabetes, oral disease
When the pandemic first hit in Peru, authorities took early action and implemented one of the world’s most extreme quarantine measures. So how did Peru become a major COVID-19 hotspot?
Lack of safe food storage, majority of the population is informally employed, limited access to financial safety nets (social security and formal saving accounts)
What’s the difference between cultural awareness, cultural sensitivity, and cultural competency?
Cultural Awareness: Recognize differences between your cultural identity and other cultures, acknowledging how differences inform attitudes and behaviors.
Cultural Sensitivity: Implement what you have learned. Enter communities within their cultural framework and interact accordingly.
Cultural Competency: Fluency in cross-cultural social interactions.
What were the effects of privatization on Peru’s healthcare system?
Less accessibility to healthcare due to the proliferation of an employee-based healthcare system, and many peruvians lost their jobs due to privatization and were unable to reenter the economy
Did not deal with funding/administrative problems of IPSS, so public sector was still lacking
Do we take every patient’s blood pressure? If not, whose do we take? How do you say “I’m going to take your blood pressure” in Spanish?
No, only for patients older than 16. Voy a tomar su presión
At the toothbrushing station, who receives fluoride varnish and why is fluoride important?
Only children over the age of 5. Fluoride varnish helps to remineralize and maintain teeth (prevents tooth decay)
What are the steps that MEDLIFE takes to make safe food deliveries to communities?
MEDLIFE community organizers speak to community leaders to identify families in need
Make a list of families that are struggling with food insecurity, or another basic necessity.
Fundraises to purchase food for those families
MEDLIFE community organizers coordinate the process of food donations.
Purchase, package, disinfect, and deliver a week’s supply of food to the identified families.
Repeat.