GlobeMed at the University of Chicago partners with ASPAT to improve the quality of life for people affected by tuberculosis in Lima, Peru.
GlobeMed at the University of Chicago + ASPAT
Chapter
GlobeMed at the University of Chicago | Chicago, Illinois
Partner
Asociación de Personas Afectadas por Tuberculosis del Perú (ASPAT) | Callao, Peru
Key Fact
The most common strain of tuberculosis in Peru is multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), which is unresponsive to the typical medications used to treat tuberculosis.
“TB patients require twice as many calories as average people in order to recover, but many patients are malnourished, even by normal standards. ASPAT ensures that patients are eating properly by providing food baskets (filled with milk, rice, beans, tuna, and other healthy foods) to patients in need. The baskets, which cost around $40 each, are delivered monthly. Most patients need the baskets for 6 months, while drug-resistant TB patients require 12-24 months’ worth. Of course, at the root of these three main problems (overcrowding, lack of education, malnutrition) is poverty. To get at the heart of poverty, ASPAT plans to by providing training and start-up funds to small businesses such as sandwich and ayacucho (beef heart skewer) stands, jewelry kiosks, and the like.”
– ASPAT
About the Partnership
Founded in 2010, GlobeMed at the University of Chicago is partnered with Asociación de Personas Afectadas por Tuberculosis del Perú (ASPAT) to advocate for high-quality tuberculosis education and care for the communities in and around Callao, Peru. ASPAT was founded by former TB patients who recognized the need for increased support and education for people battling TB in Peru.
ASPAT’s main areas of work include nutrition, education, prevention, promotion of rights and citizen participation, poverty alleviation projects, and increasing resources to help fight TB. Since 2010, GlobeMed at the University of Chicago has raised over $10,000 for ASPAT’s tuberculosis programs.
Project
GlobeMed at the University of Chicago is funding an educational program for tuberculosis patients, a nutrition program, a modular housing project, and a novel system for evaluation of population statistics. These programs aim to effectively target people affected by tuberculosis by addressing some of their basic needs such as nutrition to help recover from disease as well as proper housing to prevent unnecessary spread of the disease.
Impact
The novel system for evaluation of population statistics will benefit ASPAT by providing accurate and freely available statistics, allowing ASPAT to evaluate its own impact for the first time.
Get Involved
Read GlobeMed at the University of Chicago’s annual report and donate to their cause. Interested in joining the chapter? Contact uchicago@globemed.org.
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