Freezing temperatures on Peru’s southern Altiplano, where the arrival of below zero temperatures this year came as early as March — almost three months earlier than usual — as well as government inefficiency, critics say, have contributed to the death of 140 children aged 5 or younger so far this year.
In Puno, an important highland agricultural and livestock region, only 3 percent of funds allocated for health care in 2009 have so far been invested in infrastructure, disease prevention, equipment, personnel or medicine.
“Significant financial resources have been transferred to Puno’s Regional Government,” said Health minister Oscar Ugarte in comments to daily Peru21. “But the money is simply not being invested. This region’s case is serious: only 3 percent of the money allocated has been spent since January. By now, however, they should have spent at least 40 percent.”
In Peru’s southern highlands, where poverty is widespread and there is a lack of doctors, health care facilities, medicine and, in some areas, deficient basic utilities such as electricity, children – often malnourished – are much more vulnerable to extreme cold temperatures.
“The rural health clinic went for over a week with no doctors and as a result three children died,” said Carabaya mayor, Gabriel Mamani.
“We want the government to help us,” added the mayor of Tinta, Ángel Manya Zavaleta. “We only have two doctors for 9,000 residents.”
