Clinic La Fuente Centro de Salud Integral – Cusco, Peru
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Requirements: Intermediate Spanish or better required. Fluent Spanish required for Medical Students.
Mission Statement: The vision of La Fuente is three-fold: 1) Offer excellent, Christ-centered healthcare that emphasizes sharing the Gospel with patients. 2) Evangelize and disciple Peruvian healthcare students in the clinical context in order to produce healthcare providers that will see their profession as a means to grow God's kingdom in Peru as they heal in Jesus' Name. 3) Leverage our clinic as a leader in social justice and health, thereby challenging others in authority to fulfill the mandate of loving our neighbor as we seek to grow God’s kingdom in our city.
Profile: La Fuente Centro de Salud Integral is a Christian non-profit healthcare clinic located in the city of Cusco, Peru. We offer services in the areas of ophthalmology, optometry, dentistry, adult medicine, women's health, pediatrics, psychology, physical therapy, clinical laboratory, and pharmacy. In 2015 our staff saw over 15,000 patients.
La Fuente is staffed by Peruvian nationals as well as international volunteers. We share a love for Christ, an awareness of His inexhaustible grace for us, and a passion for seeing the city of Cusco and its surrounding areas redeemed for the glory of God.
Time Difference: Same as EST.
Travel: Fly by commercial airline to Lima, Peru. Depending on arrival time, it might be necessary to spend the night in Lima. From Lima you will take a one-hour flight to Cusco. Upon arrival, you will travel by ground transportation to your place of lodging.
Location: La Fuente is located approximately 680 miles south east of Lima. The altitude is 11,200 feet near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range, located on the eastern end of the Knot of Cusco.
People: Peruvian culture is warm and “touchy-feely”. Greeting is done with a cheek kiss or a handshake (between males). Each individual greets and is greeted, with noticeably less personal space. Sharing is a sign of friendship and refusal of anything offered is considered impolite. The culture is also very communal. Punctuality is not a Peruvian value, although professionals understand the expectation.
Language: Most patients speak Spanish, although some prefer Quechua (an indigenous language derived from the ancestral language). Because of the missionary community in the area, there are occasionally English-speaking patients. The Peruvian staff can help translate between Spanish and Quechua.
Religion: The national religion of Peru is Catholicism with more than 90% of the population identifying as Catholic. There is a strong element of syncretism – the mixing of Andean beliefs with Catholicism. Among the university population there is a current of post-modernism that is observable.
Climate: High temperatures range from low 70s to low 80s year round. Temperatures can drop below freezing from May through July. There is a distinct rainy season which usually begins in November and continues until the beginning of April. April through October is generally very dry.
Housing: Housing will be in either local hotels or missionary guest housing. All options include private bedroom and bath, with some hotels adding breakfast. The guesthouse includes a shared living/kitchen area and maid service. A mini apartment is available, including kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and living room. Lodging will be confirmed prior to departure.
Food: Be prepared to make your own meals, buy your own food, etc. Meals are not provided at the clinic. There are several family-owned restaurants near the clinic where you can buy lunch rather cheaply and finer restaurants in the city center. Grocery stores are common and prices considerably cheaper for staple foods, such as rice, pasta, tuna, colas, oil, flour, etc. Most meats are available in grocery stores for reasonable prices. U.S./imported items will cost more than at home. Fruits and vegetables are available in outdoor markets, but they must be cleaned thoroughly by soaking in bleach water mixture before consumption.
