Page 5 - Spring Summer 2021 Newsletter Flip

Lucho Espejo

SPRING/SUMMER 2021 FoC Chairman of the Board

Peru recorded its first case of COVID-19 on March 6th 2020. As it
implemented one of the strictest lockdowns in Latin America, the Peruvian
Government was initially successful in controlling the spread of the
virus. However, the prevention measures proved too difficult to sustain
particularly for Peruvians living in poverty who rely on daily wages and
informal work to survive. By May/June of last year, 85 percent of ICU beds
in Peru were occupied. By August. Peru had recorded over 500,000 COVID
cases and over 25,000 deaths. As 2020 came to a close, the country saw
an additional 500,000 cases causing an already weak and underfunded
public healthcare system to collapse.

2021 started off with the promising news of soon-to-be available vaccines.
However, as the Peruvian government started to prepare and roll-out its
vaccination program a third wave of COVID-19, destabilized the country
once more. The March surge of COVID cases hit close to home, as several
ACAF team members tested positive and got seriously sick. Sadly, the team suffered a number of fatalities as well.
Less than a month ago, the Peruvian Ministry of Health updated its COVID-19 mortality data, revealing that its
initial death toll estimates had been off by more than 100,000 deaths. This makes Peru the country with the highest
mortality rate in the world.

Throughout this crisis, your contributions have enabled our partners in Chimbote to do life-saving work, providing
essentials like clean drinking water, food, and oxygen to our brothers and sisters in need. I can confidently state
that because of you, people, who might have otherwise perished, are alive and well; I am humbled and inspired by
your generosity and know that my fellow Chimbotanos are as well.
Lucho

Vaccinations Slowly Rollout in Peru

Vaccinations in Peru are slowly progressing with less than 5% of the
population fully vaccinated. The projection is that up to 15% could be
fully vaccinated by the end of August.
The low availability of the vaccine makes it critical for ACAF to be strong
advocates for our Mission beneficiaries to get access to vaccinations. We
are coordinating with DIRESA, the regional health department, to secure
doses for the elderly in greatest need. This includes the handicapped,
those with severe comorbidities and those living alone.
ACAF personnel schedule the vaccinations, provide transportation and
assist the beneficiaries at the vaccination sites. At the end of April, sixty-
eight people ages 80 and older received their first dose with their second
dose on May 19th. Another sixty beneficiaries ages 70-79 received their
first dose on May 17th. There had been deep anxieties among these
elderly men and women that there would be no way for them to get
vaccinated. While the rollout is slow and irregular, hope is building that
they will have access to a vaccine through the advocacy and resources of A long-time missionary favorite “Jaime”
ACAF and our Mission. receives his first covid vaccination.

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