Woman to set up free clinic in Peru
CRANBERRY TWP — A township woman is flying to Peru in June with a group of students to set up a free medical clinic, but the group first must assemble as much medical supplies as it can.
Kuljit Kaur, 22, attends the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine after previously attending the University of Pittsburgh and Seneca Valley High School.
She’ll leave June 8 to spend at least two weeks in Peru, either in the capital Lima or somewhere in the Amazon. She will go with about 25 other students from the college to set up free clinics there.
Kaur admitted she’s excited for the trip, but added the volunteer experience is already proving to be costly.
The roundtrip airfare cost her $1,000, while she also paid $2,000 to a professional organization that will set up rooms and meals for the students.
Just about the only thing not in place is medical supplies the team will need to treat patients.
Kaur is seeking donations in the form of medical supplies: medication, gloves and hygiene items. But perhaps most important are gummy vitamins for children, Kaur said, adding that many children in Peru are malnourished and don’t have easy access to vitamins.
Kaur said the group’s work only can go as far as the donations take it.
“It’s going to be a nonprofit clinic,” she said. “Everything we do over there will be based on whatever supplies we take with us. Whenever we run out of whatever we take, then that’s the end of all we can do for people there.”
Although Kaur hasn’t been on a trip like this before, past participants have told her to be ready for the crowds. She’s heard that entire extended families show up to the free clinics and receive the only health care they’ve had in years.
She estimated that thousands of people will go to these clinics in a two-week span.
She wants to do something like this now because the opportunity won’t be there in the coming years.
That is because Kaur is a first-year student at the medical college and as such, this summer will be her last one before other school responsibilities take hold.
“I’ve always been big on helping out in the community and helping people who can’t afford health care,” she said. “It is a right. Everyone needs to be taken care of and healthy.”
Kaur said anyone interested in donating supplies can contact her via e-mail at kaurtoon@gmail.com. Donations also may be dropped off at Kaur’s parent’s house at 116 Clearbrook Drive, Cranberry Township. She also is accepting checks or cash donations.
