The Mission

AYACUCHO MISSION

In 1994, PAMS initiated sponsorship of medical mission trips to Peru. After suffering the consequences of the war on terrorism, Ayacucho became one of the poorest regions of the country. The war devastated the precarious economy of the region and destroyed the very limited local infrastructure with the loss of thousands of human lives to the hands of terrorists and the military.

In 1996, Dr. Efrain Montesinos directed the first Ayacucho Mission. Dr. Ralph Kuon was the Medical Director from 1998 until 2006 when California-based Dr. Cesar Aranguri assumed Directorship. Dr. Pablo Uceda became the Mission’s Surgical Services Chief in 2008.

The Ayacucho Mission is sponsored by PAMS and is performed in cooperation with other medical mission groups. It returns each year for two weeks during the summer to provide medical, surgical, dental, and educational assistance to its indigent population. During the annual visit the Mission also assists in caring for approximately 180 children at the local orphanage. A Mental Health and a Diabetes Clinic are available to patients throughout the year. The services are provided at the Ayacucho Regional Hospital thanks to an agreement forged by PAMS with the Hospital Administration and the local physicians. Among the Mission’s contributions to the improvement of the Regional Hospital are a CT scanner and an upgraded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

From 1996 to 2008 approximately 23,000 patients were provided free medical and dental care including over 2000 performed surgeries. In June 2008 the Mission provided free medical and dental services to 2,860 patients, including 148 surgeries. The Ayacucho Mission has been privileged to serve the people in most need of medical attention and has provided education to the community and medical staff with great success.

For additional information or to contact the Medical Director of the Mission please visit www.ayacuchomission.org

Ayacucho Mission 2009

Last year a group of volunteers from North Texas visited Ayacucho for the annual medical Mission from July 12 to July 18. The team performed near 48 surgical procedures and provided medical care for children at the Pediatric Clinic. We also participated at the activities at the Ayacucho Orphanage.

These are the volunteers from North Texas:

Physicians: Gordon Bruce, John Chau, Sandra Lozano, Enmanuel Ubinas, Pablo Uceda
Nurses: Aneil Kamath, Claudia Reynoso, Valerie Small, Magean Thompson, Melanie Uceda.
Dietician: Monica Bruce.
Medical Students: Justin Ahn, JR Zatarain.
Volunteers: Jennifer Bentley, Christian and Johnathan Bruce, Julia Chen, Savannah Murphy, Gabriel Nunez, Gabriel Uceda