Public Health

The Challenge

Lobitos, and the wider area of Piura in northern Peru, face significant public health challenges. Understaffing and scarce resources in the local medical facilities prevent access to adequate healthcare. Climate crises, including intensified El Niño events, create ideal conditions for mosquito-borne diseases like dengue. Limited access to clean water, sanitation and health education increases the risk of diarrheal and parasitic diseases especially amongst children. Through medical campaigns, community engagement and their collaboration with medical institutions, EcoSwell helps mitigate these issues and build community resilience. 

The Facts

• During El Niño years 2017 and 2023, Piura reported some of Peru’s highest dengue cases with 44,275 cases in 2017 and 79,304 in 2023, accounting for 64% and 30% of national total respectively1.

• Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths amongst Peruvian women 2-3, 99% of cases being caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV)4. 

• HPV vaccination was introduced into the national Peruvian vaccination programme in 2011 and since then, thanks to national, regional and local campaigns, has reached national coverage of 87% in 20235.

• Lobitos has some of the poorest household water access in Peru6.

• Peru is the South American country most affected by anaemia, affecting around 40% of children and pregnant women7-8.

• The health post of Lobitos consists of two nurses, with one trained in midwifery, and an odontologist, providing healthcare for a population of around 1,500 people

  The Ministry of Health have identified the following as the top national health priorities for 2024-20309:

  1. Limited access to safe water and basic sanitation.

  2. Effects of climate change, with emphasis on the El Niño phenomenon.

  3. Inadequate sexual and reproductive health, with emphasis on teenage pregnancy.

  4. Maternal and paediatric anemia due to deficiencies.

Potential Solutions

A global network for local impact. Working jointly with the the Lobitos Medical Post, we have implemented the EcoSwell Medical Electives/Volunteer program. As part of this, medical students and/or professionals will get experience in a community based medical post, supporting the local staff. The following specialities can be expected: Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dermatology, Dentistry, General Practice and Infectious Diseases. 

Medical and research volunteers collaborate on public health projects focusing on education, prevention, surveillance, and treatment of both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Our Initiatives

As part of this placement, volunteers support the nurses of the Lobitos Medical Post carrying out consultations, vaccination campaigns and educational activities. These can cover topics such as hygiene, reproductive health, nutrition, infectious diseases (parasitic infections, dengue) and arising health concerns. They are supported and supervised by the senior nurses in the local health post and by the EcoSwell team. While Spanish proficiency is not essential, basic knowledge will be helpful in connecting with nurses and patients. 

Aligned with national and regional health priorities, our current projects include:

1. Pediatric and maternal anemia programme: We have 50 families enrolled in the project, with regular educational workshops, provision of supplementation with Lucky Iron Fish®, monitoring and follow-up.

2. HPV research and vaccination campaigns: We have conducted HPV qualitative research to best support the medical post and have supported their local HPV vaccination campaigns.

3. Epidemiological studies on dengue: We are conducting research on environmental, socio-economic determinants of dengue incidence during El Niño period to aid future interventions.

4. Community Health Worker programme: Aiming to train women in Lobitos to provide education, prevention and early detection of common conditions. 

5. Supporting local health services: Collaborating with the Lobitos Medical Post through clinical consultations, medical supply support, and regional initiatives including recent HPV and measles vaccination (2024), influenza immunisations (2025), and complementary paediatric feeding workshops (2025).

6. Dentistry: EcoSwell hosted Lobitos Smiles campaigns in 2017, 2018 and 2019 to provide dental care to children and adults. EcoSwell dentistry students also support the local dentist at the Lobitos Medical Post.

References

1. Dirección General de Epidemiología. (n.d.). Sala metaxénica. https://app7.dge.gob.pe/maps/sala_metaxenica/

2. Piñeros, M., Ramos, W., Antoni, S., Abriata, G., Medina, L. E., Miranda, J. J., Payet, E., & Bray, F. (2017). Cancer patterns, trends, and transitions in Peru: A regional perspective. Lancet Oncology, 18(10), e573–e586.

3. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Peru fact sheet. https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/populations/604-peru-fact-sheet.pdf

4. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Cervical cancer.https://www.who.int/health-topics/cervical-cancer#tab=tab_1

5. Ministerio de Salud (MINSA). (n.d.). Vacuna contra el VPH: Se aplicaron más de 688,000 dosis a niñas y niños de 9 a 13 años. https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minsa/noticias/902302-vacuna-contra-el-vph-se-aplicaron-mas-de-688-000-dosis-a-ninas-y-ninos-de-9-a-13-anos

6. Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI). (n.d.). Publicaciones. https://www.inei.gob.pe/media/MenuRecursivo/publicaciones_digitales/Est/Lib1553/

7. Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática (INEI). (n.d.). Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar (ENDES). https://proyectos.inei.gob.pe/endes/

8. Alcázar, L. (2013). The economic impact of anaemia in Peru. Lima: Action Against Hunger; GRADE.

9. Ministerio de Salud (MINSA). (2024). Normas legales 184-2024. https://www.gob.pe/institucion/minsa/normas-legales/5364816-184-2024-

Want to contribute to our initiatives in this challenge area?

Reforestation & Conservation

Renewable Energy

research & monitoring