Ismael Ortega is a senior technician in social integration and completed his fourth-year nursing degree at the San Juan de Dios School of Nursing and Physiotherapy in Ciempozuelos, Madrid. Since late August, he has been an international volunteer for Juan Ciudad NGO at the San Juan de Dios Clinic in Iquitos, Peru.
A clinic belonging to the Order of the Hospitallers of Saint John of God, dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of people with disabilities, whose superior and manager is Brother Clemente Cruz Torres. This center has been open to international volunteers promoted by Juan Ciudad NGO for years.
Ismael tells us about his experience in one of the health campaigns he participated in during his stay in Iquitos. These campaigns are promoted by the San Juan de Dios Clinic as part of the "Messengers of Health" initiative. They have been carried out periodically for years in isolated communities, with the goal of bringing health care to diverse populations.
The "Messengers of Health" campaign, in which Ismael participated, took place on Saturday, October 27, 2018, in Tamshiyacu, a Peruvian town located in the Loreto region, Maynas province, Fernando Lores district. It is an isolated area, two hours by boat from the port of Iquitos.
In addition to Ismael Ortega, another JCONGD volunteer from the SJD Clinic in Iquitos, Judith Tejero, also participated in this campaign. She is an occupational therapist and works at the Sant Joan de DĂ©u Terres Hospital in Terres de Lleida, which specializes in mental health care for children, adolescents, and adults.
Both joined a team of clinic professionals and several local charity workers, consisting of two psychologists, two physical therapists, one dentist, six physicians, one pharmacist, three nurses, two occupational therapists, one clown, and other support staff. Ismael Ortega primarily assisted with triage, while Judith assisted with patient reception.
During the campaign, 244 people, 109 of them children, received care for ailments such as anemia, diabetes, parasitic infections, hypertension, and others. Orthopedic and trauma consultations were also facilitated, in addition to providing dental and psychological care.
Source: Belén Jiménez, Head of Volunteering at JCOGND.
Photos: Ismael Ortega
