We’re nothing without our team. In this blog post series, meet the people behind true change, and learn from them as they share their Health Bridges International (HBI) journey and how they’re working for a healthier future for the most vulnerable children in Perú.
Dr. Roberto H. Tarazona Ponte: The People’s Doctor
Born and raised in the port city of Callao, Perú, Dr. Roberto H. Tarazona Ponte’s medical career is anchored by his passion to get quality healthcare to people who need it most. He has worked with underfunded health facilities, ran medical campaigns, trained community health workers, and invested in health education to prevent the spread of disease in vulnerable populations. When he met HBI doctors working in one of the poorest communities in Lima, Dr. Roberto was inspired – did he just find an organization that matched his personal mission? Today, he is HBI’s Senior Health Advisor and Medical Trainer, overseeing the Ines Project and the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), programs he refers to as “living organisms” — each one having its own special dynamic sustained by the shared effort of people and institutions across civil society, governments, churches, and nonprofits.
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Where do we go from here? Wayne Centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneThe boys at the Casa Girasoles playing along the Rio Urubamba on a warm spring afternoon.
It has been over a month since the new presidential administration took office in Perú; and the response to the COVID pandemic by the government remains strong.
More and more age-groups are eligible for vaccination and larger geographic segments of the population are receiving their first doses. Projections by the Ministry of Health indicate all eligible citizens will receive their first dose by the end of 2021. This is great news. However, a number of questions remain – will the current vaccine formulations confer immune coverage in response to the rapidly changing variants (NB: Perú is predominately administering the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine formulation – which study data indicates has a <51% efficacy rate)? Will a booster vaccine be required to match the evolving viral complexity? And if such, how will Perú secure the millions of additional doses needed to “immune boost” thousands of rural and underserved communities?
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Connections – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneIt was so nice to reconnect. Our greatest asset as an organization is our team – and spending time around my colleagues is such a blessing. We spent our time going over the past 18-months, planning for next year, and reconnecting personally and professionally. Oh, and sharing a Pisco sour . . . or two. Read more
Day 8, 9, 10, and 11: Homecoming – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneThis has been a hectic trip. We’ve been on the go every day. It has been . . . without a doubt, an absolutely awesome trip!
On Sunday Father Alex and I flew back to Lima from Juliaca. On Monday, Carmen and I drove to Ica to visit the Casa Girasoles. We arrived late in the afternoon and were greeted with a banner and joyous well-wishes.
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Day 7: Reuniting with the Girasoles – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneWe’re back in Huancane. We arrived late last night after a whirlwind high mountain driving trip of over 16 hours to visit the Casa Girasoles in Urubamba.
The visit – well, what can I say . . . it was very emotional. I have missed the boys and staff so much. When we arrived at the Casa Girasoles the entire house was waiting out front. It was such a joyous reunion.
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A picture is worth a thousand words – Homecoming at the Casa Girasoles
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneDay 4, 5 and 6: Wow! – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneWow. I mean, WOW! What a crazy adventure the past 3 days have been. A complete once in a lifetime experience.
We have been driving for the past 3 and a half days. We’ve been to some of the highest navigable peaks of the Andes and to isolated communities in the jungle of the Amazon. We have visited small churches on the top of mountains and amazing nuns deep in the jungle. We’ve driven hundreds of kilometers. It feels nearly impossible to do justice to the experience. So I will let my thoughts settle for the night – and instead share some of the amazing photos from the travels.
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Day 3: Adventures in the Andes – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneSix hours of driving in the high Andes mountains, and we arrived in the city of Huancane at nearly 4,000 meters above sea level around 6 pm on Monday night. Father Alex and I are staying with the Bishop of Huancane. Bishop Giovani is a fellow Missionary Society of St. Paul priest from Malta and one of the most sincere and dearest people on the planet. We are joining the Bishop to travel from small village to small village over the next four days.
Bright and early this morning I went for a run. In small communities like Huancane there are not a lot of foreign visitors. This was especially true as I huffed and puffed my way up the concrete streets. When I got back to the rectory where we are staying – one of the priests told me the whole town was talking about the “crazy gringo running up and down the streets.” I think I gave them something to talk about over their morning coffee.
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Day 2: Arequipa and Beyond – wayne centrone
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneNow, after an early morning flight – I find myself typing this post in the volunteer house of Father Alex in Arequipa. Needless-to-say, its beautiful!
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Bridge Builders: The Heart of Our Work (Part 2 of 2)
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneWe’re nothing without our team. In the last installment of this series, meet the people behind true change, and learn from them as they share their Health Bridges International (HBI) journey and how they’re working for a healthier future for the most vulnerable children in Perú.
Srta. Lidia Nancy Cari Ruiz, HBI’s Partner-in-Collaboration
Srta. Lidia Nancy Cari Ruiz possesses a gift: she’s an incredible gatherer of people and partners. More than 15 years ago, her heart for meaningful relationships led her to volunteer in NGOs because sharing cultures, exchanging ideas, and learning different perspectives inspires her. Her fluency in both Spanish and English only enhances her relationship skills, allowing her to build trust with teammates, volunteers, and supporters.
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Bridge Builders: The Heart of Our Work (Part 1 of 2)
/0 Comments/in Blog /by Wayne CentroneWe’re nothing without our team. In this blog post series, meet the people behind true change, and learn from them as they share their Health Bridges International (HBI) journey and how they’re working for a healthier future for the most vulnerable children in Perú.
Dr. Roberto H. Tarazona Ponte: The People’s Doctor
Born and raised in the port city of Callao, Perú, Dr. Roberto H. Tarazona Ponte’s medical career is anchored by his passion to get quality healthcare to people who need it most. He has worked with underfunded health facilities, ran medical campaigns, trained community health workers, and invested in health education to prevent the spread of disease in vulnerable populations. When he met HBI doctors working in one of the poorest communities in Lima, Dr. Roberto was inspired – did he just find an organization that matched his personal mission? Today, he is HBI’s Senior Health Advisor and Medical Trainer, overseeing the Ines Project and the Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), programs he refers to as “living organisms” — each one having its own special dynamic sustained by the shared effort of people and institutions across civil society, governments, churches, and nonprofits.
Read more