MSH Peru’s “¡Qué bien te veo, Perú!” programme arrived in the district of Santiago with comprehensive care and health prevention messages.
Cusco, Santiago district, 7 November.
That morning, dozens of elderly people from the Pension 65 programme arrived at the auditorium of the Fe y Alegría school, a service point, with the same expectation: to be able to read a letter, a receipt or the label on their medicines again without effort. Through the “¡Qué bien te veo, Perú!” programme, MSH Peru held an eye health day that benefited more than 300 vulnerable users.
The campaign consisted of a simple, free visual assessment, in which words and texts were displayed in different sizes to identify difficulties in near vision and determine the need for glasses for close-up vision (presbyopia). As a result of these assessments, reading glasses and UV-protective glasses were provided, which are essential for caring for the visual health of older people.
The lenses were donated by the international organisation Restoring Vision, while MSH Peru coordinated the partnership between Restoring Vision and the Ministry of Development and Social Inclusion (Midis) through the Pension 65 programme. This collaboration made it possible to bring specialised eye care services to a population that, in many cases, cannot access them for economic or geographical reasons.
When an elderly person can read again on their own, they gain independence and dignity. That is the kind of impact we are seeking with ‘¡Qué bien te veo, Perú!’
– Erika Dávila, representative of MSH Peru, pointed out.
Health for all people
The activity also incorporated a comprehensive approach to health. In parallel with the eye campaign, pneumococcal vaccinations were administered and preventive guidance was provided on different types of cancer, reinforcing messages about the importance of early diagnosis and regular check-ups.
The event was attended by the regional coordinators of Pension 65 in Cusco and the MSH Peru team, who accompanied the process of care, awareness-raising and delivery of glasses. This experience adds to the actions that MSH Peru has been promoting to improve the quality of life of populations at risk and in vulnerable situations nationwide.
With initiatives such as “¡Qué bien te veo, Perú!” (I see you looking good, Peru!), MSH Peru reaffirms its commitment to bringing quality health services to those who need them most, promoting active ageing, self-care and equitable access to opportunities to see and live better.
