Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peruvian Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp), one of the most famous Andean tubers due to its revitalizing properties, could also improve learning and memory, according to a study conducted by the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos.

Dr. Raquel Oré Sifuentes, head of this research, said that the effects of energizing yellow maca on memory and learning were tested by biochemical tests in rats.

The animals that had consumed higher doses of yellow maca extract had a better response, said Dr. Raquel Ore, who is involved in these investigations since 2002.

But there's more: After studying the brains of these animals, she found out that that several of them had improved their antioxidant defenses and experienced the inhibition of the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase, which could improve cognitive functions.

She added that more studies have yet to be conducted about these findings.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Health Minister, Oscar Ugarte, said that the first shipment of AH1N1 flu vaccines will arrive during the next few days.

“The first ones to be vaccinated will be pregnant mothers, children, health workers and people at high-risk groups,” he addded.

Some of the groups considered at high-risk are people with kidney failure, as well as those with respiratory and heart conditions.

He clarified that this lot, purchased through a World Health Organization's fund, will allow the vaccination of three million people.

The vaccination campaign will start once the lot arrives, as a way to cope with a possible new outbreak during the upcoming winter.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Pamela Torres

Hospitals and members of the brigade of the Ministry of Health, will be prepared to handle any possible emergencies that may occur during and after Christmas and New Year celebrations, informed Juan Velasco, chief of the Health Management of Lima.

The physician explained that they will make sure they have enough medicine, blood supplies and other supplies needed to take care of emergencies and also that the transport needed for people hurt is ready.

The personnel will be specialized on handling cases of possible intoxication, fires and car accidents as a massive displacement of people from one place to another is expected.

Velasco mentioned that during these dates around 220 members of the health brigade will be ready to act and they will be in coordination with the ambulances of “EsSalud” and “Fuerzas Armadas and solidarity” which will be strategically located.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Pamela Torres

Doctor Mario Eduardo Garrido Toribio (49), accused of performing an illegal kidney transplant to a Mexican Businessman, will have to present himself today before the investigating committee of Essalud, entity where he works. The reason: he will have to clarify his participation in this crime that was denounced last Friday by the Ministry of health.

If he is found guilty, the physicians will determine his immediate expulsion. It is presumed that the illegal intervention would have been performed by Garrido – who until yesterday had remained clandestine – in a local clinic with the help of at least twelve professional doctors.

Police sources have stated that agents in charge of the investigation will also attend the meeting – that would be around 9 a.m. – in order to take the testimony of the physician. Meanwhile, the Mexican patient, Óscar Soberón Cueto, 50, is still in poor health conditions in the clinic San Felipe.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The announcement of the upcoming construction of the new headquarters of the National Institute of Children's Health, INSN, is creating a controversy among the residents of San Borja district and the Health's Ministry (MINSA).

Residents of San Borja, led by John Henry Sotero Solorzano, president of a local homeowners association, argue that the eight-floor building will create pollution, noise, traffic, street vendors, crime, and the devaluation of their properties.

Municipal authorities support this view and also say the area isn't suitable because  a gas station is close to the proposed site, on the corner of avenues Rosa Toro and Javier Prado.

Jorge Valcarcel, a consultant for MINSA, explained that the new hospital will provide higher level attention and will be fully equipped with the latest technology. The new hospital will receive patients sent from other MINSA hospitals from Lima and other provinces who require specialized care.

While San Borja residents held a sit-in to protest the hospital's construction, employees and relatives of INSN's patients held a vigil to express support of the proposed hospital.

The government plans to invest 220 million soles (US $73 million) to build the new headquarters of the INSN, which will serve nearly 11 million children under 18 years old across the country.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The director of the Education Management Unit (UGEL) No. 6, Carmen Najarro, said today that 24 students from Roosevelt school got infected with AH1N1 influenza during a trip to Punta Cana, but they will soon return to school once an official certification of their current condition is issued.

In an interview with RPP Noticias, she said that some students no longer have the symptoms (according to their doctors) but they are going to be evaluated by doctors from the Regional Health Authority (DIRESA).

She mentioned that 24 students and one mother got the virus. They are receiving treatment but that classes have not been suspended.

She also clarified that the Roosevelt School does not have any responsibility for this outbreak, since the travel was organized by some parents and the school does not allow or promote any kind of prom trip.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Fourteen students (possibly 15) from the Franklin Roosevelt High School in Lima have been  diagnosed with AH1N1 influenza, after their prom trip to Punta Cana  in the Dominican Republic.

"The Health Ministry is taking preventive measures and providing the affected youngsters immediate medical attention. This an isolated outbreak," said Victor Diaz Chavez, Vice-Minister of Pedagogical Management.

Diaz Chavez recalled that his sector had recommended all schools to be very careful when choosing the destinations for their prom trips.

Minister Oscar Ugarte asked the population not to be alarmed and emphasized that the vaccines will arrive in Lima in February 2010.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Health Minister Oscar Ugarte said that due to some delays in laboratory production process, the vaccines against influenza AH1N1 will arrive in Peru by January 2010.

In a dialogue with RPP, he said that said that despite this inconvenience, the vaccination schedule will be met, starting during the first quarter of 2010.

He stressed that first priority will be given to health workers, pregnant mothers, children and people from any high-risk group, like those who suffer from heart failure, kidney failure, etc.

Ugarte told the press that this way, when next winter arrives, the country's most vulnerable population will be protected.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Hepatitis B not only the only threat to the Candoshi-Shapra indigenous people in Datem, Maranon; reports state that AH1N1 influenza is present in the region, too.

Two people have already died in Loreto region due to this disease, according to Coordinadora Nacional de Radio.

According to the biologist Fernando Fernandez, Head of the Directorate of Health Networks for Datem-Alto Amazonas, another five cases of this flu have been reported recently.

He stressed the need to provide more resources to the health network, which also is supposed to protect the population of other diseases, such as rabies and leprosy.

"If this flu reaches these native populations, it could start a catastrophe," said Fernandez, who added that, despite the lack of funding, the medical attention of native patients suffering from hepatitis B is guaranteed.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

With the aim of promoting the beneficial  effects of music in psychoprofilaxis and early stimulation, as well as promoting accompanied childbirth, the National Institute Maternal Perinatal (former Lima's Maternity Hospital; INMP by its Spanish initials)  organized the "First Concert of Pregnant Women 2009."

The happy moms-to-be  with did a nice performance with violins, guitars, flutes and other musical instruments, accompanied by voices.

According to specialists from INMP, these activities reinforce the importance of auditive techniques in the development of babies' brains.

Moms have also been taught some other techniques to improve physical development.

Moreover, these techniques reinforce the  emotional bond between parents and babies, contributing to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality rates.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.