Peru: Tayta Operation projected to serve 400,000 vulnerable citizens thru end-2020

According to the officer, Tayta Operation has carried out 183 interventions in various regions of the country and benefited around 137,000 vulnerable people, such as adults over 60 years and citizens with chronic diseases (diabetes, hypertension, among others) that aggravate their health condition if they become infected with the new coronavirus.

"If we multiply the number of people served —by their family group, which on average is four people— then Tayta Operation has served more than 500,000 people in this joint effort of various State-run institutions that targets all regions of the country," he said in remarks to Andina news agency. 

The Tayta Operation general coordinator said that this intervention consists of early detection through screening and clinical diagnosis, early treatment with drugs approved by the Ministry of Health (Minsa), as well as home isolation of infected people and their family members, to whom the National Civil Defense Institute (Indeci) gives a basket of non-perishable food so that they can cope with the quarantine period.

He explained that —before starting the interventions— information is collected from Minsa's National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control. Such information is linked to the Heat Map that shows the areas where there is a greater risk of COVID-19 contagion.

Based on this information, the districts and provinces are identified. Then, the citizens —who qualify to be assisted by Tayta Operation— are selected, in accordance with the vulnerability criteria.

"For the remainder of the year, we have programmed 14 district-based Tayta Operations that will enable us to serve 210 districts (…). We estimate that we will serve 400,000 people until the end of the year. It is a challenge that we have set ourselves," he emphasized.