Medical Missions
Hands Across the Americas is committed to providing free medical care to communities in North, Central and South America where people are living in extreme poverty and do not receive or have access to adequate healthcare. Teams of volunteers including doctors, nurses and support personnel embark on annual medical missions to provide medical attention and healthcare education.
Cusco, Peru
Hands Across the Americas completed our fifth medical mission in Cusco, Peru in August 2012. The organization took a team of 42 volunteers, comprising a team who specialize in general surgery, pediatrics, gynecology, internal medicine, optometry and dentistry, as well as several nurses and non-medical volunteers. This year, the team served people in 5 remote locations outside of Cusco who are living in extreme poverty. This was the first year that we performed surgeries on the Peru mission and it was a huge success. Our surgeons assisted and trained 22 local surgeons, made 100 patients rounds and conducted 5 lectures on surgical techniques.
The Primary Care physicians treated approximately 985 people and dispensed about $40,000 worth of medications. In addition, the eye doctors did 285 eye exams, performed 6 cataract surgeries and treated 8 people with glaucoma, providing them with enough medication to last for one year. We also distributed 500 pairs of sunglasses, 800 reading glasses, 10 wheel chairs, 15 canes and 6 walkers.
Hands Across the Americas has touched people from all over the world. Our volunteers are from all over—people from the United States, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Panama, Turkey, and Peru have attended the Peru missions. We also invite college and high school students to join us. Our young adult volunteers are very important members of the team and we are pleased that we are contributing to helping our younger generation give back.
Read about a teacher, student and recent alumna from Garrison Forest School experience on the Hands Across the Americas Peru Mission
The Primary Care physicians treated approximately 985 people and dispensed about $40,000 worth of medications. In addition, the eye doctors did 285 eye exams, performed 6 cataract surgeries and treated 8 people with glaucoma, providing them with enough medication to last for one year. We also distributed 500 pairs of sunglasses, 800 reading glasses, 10 wheel chairs, 15 canes and 6 walkers.
Hands Across the Americas has touched people from all over the world. Our volunteers are from all over—people from the United States, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Panama, Turkey, and Peru have attended the Peru missions. We also invite college and high school students to join us. Our young adult volunteers are very important members of the team and we are pleased that we are contributing to helping our younger generation give back.
Read about a teacher, student and recent alumna from Garrison Forest School experience on the Hands Across the Americas Peru Mission
