Peruvian Health Minister Luis Dyer has defended the regional healthcare system in Piura despite acknowledging that Santa Rosa Hospital is collapsing under heavy patient demand.
Speaking during a visit to the facility, Dyer announced plans to install a new emergency hospital in Piura, financed through private sector support, foreign embassy contributions, and donations.
Addressing public criticism over broken equipment and limited care capacity, Dyer maintained that the healthcare system at least works and said people should be grateful for its operation.
He acknowledged that no hospital would ever be perfect, but argued that existing infrastructure must be reinforced rather than dismissed.
Regional hospital conditions
Dyer launched a sharp critique of regional authorities across Peru, stating that while some regional governments are fulfilling their duties, others are doing absolutely nothing to support public health.
In Peru's decentralized health system, regional authorities share responsibility with the national Ministry of Health for funding, equipping, and maintaining public medical facilities.
Comparing regional healthcare conditions in northern Peru, Dyer argued that Piura maintains a more functional system than neighboring areas. He claimed that while equipment in Piura remains operational despite overcrowding, medical facilities in the nearby region of Tumbes are falling to pieces.
Tumbes is Peru's northernmost coastal region bordering Ecuador, located directly north of Piura along the Pacific coast.
Dengue vaccination drive
Turning to public health threats, Dyer confirmed that Piura has received approximately 140,000 doses of dengue vaccines to protect local residents.
He urged young people between the ages of 10 and 20 to get vaccinated urgently, warning that upcoming seasonal rains could accelerate the spread of the disease.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection endemic to tropical areas of Peru. Outbreaks frequently spike during rainy seasons when standing water creates breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Dyer called on families in Piura not to miss the opportunity to vaccinate eligible youths before weather conditions deteriorate.
