The coming implementation of Peruvian Navy's new Lago Titicaca I Itinerant Social Action Platform (PIAS) will bring State services and programs closer to Lake Titicaca's population, the Development and Social Inclusion Ministry (Midis) informed.
The Ministry noted the vessel would bring medical attention and social programs to all populations settled in the lake's basin, located in South-Andean Puno region.
Defense Minister Jorge Nieto, who led the supervision of the PIAS, underlined its role in reaching out to otherwise isolated communities.
"The idea is to bring all public services like the National Registry for Identification and Civil Status [Reniec], Banco de la Nacion [State-run Bank of Nation], and Midis' social programs," the government official explained.
"But, above all, [the idea is] to bring health [services] in a range of specialties, as is already the case with Amazon [River] populations," he added.
Built by State-run Navy Industrial Services (SIMA), Lago Titicaca I PIAS is the fifth vessel of its kind but the first to be assigned to Puno region. The other four cater for the Amazon's riverside populations.
"It will cover every community in the surroundings of Lake Titicaca, providing all medical specialties to the population," Minister Nieto said.
"It will even allow doctors to perform minor surgeries, as well as telemedicine surgeries through technology."
Lago Titicaca I has already run three preliminary sailing tests successfully and is ready to be equipped with the corresponding armamentarium.
Unlike the ones operating in the Amazon River, the Titicaca PIAS has a heating system to cope with the region's wide-ranging weather.
The vessel can carry up a crew of up to 45 passengers (27 officials and 18 Navy staff.)
