Questions
Answers
How do you propose to guarantee the long term financial support for this hospital?
Approximately half of the budget is to be covered by an international association of supporting members with a target membership of 1000. In addition, we founded the Diospi Suyana Foundation in March 2004. In the long-term, the interest from this will also flow into the running of the hospital. Patients belonging to the middle classes will of course be expected to pay for their treatment. A local social worker will determine to what extent the patients can contribute to the cost of treatment.
What is the Peruvian government contributing to this charity hospital?
In an agreement between Diospi Suyana and the state health authorities (DIRESA), dated April 3, 2003, cooperation has been regulated in a very unbureaucratic manner. On 4 July 2006, Dres. Klaus and Tina John presented Diospi Suyana to the wife of the Peruvian President. The First Lady of Peru, Pilar Nores de García, accepted to serve as godmother of the project. She wants to help especially with the importation of medical equipment. On 25 July 2006 the Secretary of Health, Dra. Pilar Mazzetti and Dr. John signed a treaty of cooperation. Based on that document the Peruvian government will contribute +/- 5 % to the monthy budget.
What role will the Christian Faith play in the daily routine of the hospital?
In the cooperation agreement with the state health authorities Diospi Suyana committed itself to treat all Peruvians, irrespective of faith or creed. Our motivation in building and running the hospital is to put Jesus´ Sermon on the Mount into practice. There are no conditions attached to Diospi Suyana´s charitable assistance
Is there room for an evangelical hospital in a predominantly catholic country?
Yes, of course! At present, 10% of the inhabitants of Curahuasi belong to protestant churches. The proportion of faiths one to another is improving all over Peru. The hospital will of course treat Catholics with the same respect as Protestants.
How many employees will the hospital need?
A total of 70 members of staff will be needed to run the hospital. Approximately 35 Peruvians can be employed by the hospital management at local rates of pay. The team will be completed by volunteer workers from overseas who will organize their own financial support from private sponsors. Thus the hospital budget can be significantly reduced and more money can be made available to provide medical care for the poorest.
Is it really worthwhile doing a project of this size in Peru?
The planned missionary hospital has the potential to treat 50,000 patients a year on an in-patient and out-patient basis. The real benefit, however, by far exceeds this number since every patient is of course a member of a family. If a mother of 6 dies of a septic gall bladder and the father loses his job in the fields due to a broken leg, there are consequences for a large number of people.
Who will own and maintain the hospital?
The owner and operating authority of the missionary hospital in Curahuasi is the German sponsoring association Diospi Suyana. Diospi Suyana is a registered non-profitmaking association in Germany; its accounts are monitored regularly by independent accountants.
Where will all the foreign volunteers live?
All of the volunteers from overseas will live in Curahuasi in order to counter the formation of a ghetto. Direct, friendly contact with the Indian population is an important aspect of the Diospi Suyana philosophy.
Where will the hospital be located?
Following discussions with the authorities and local churches, the small town of Curahuasi in the Andes was selected as the location for the hospital. Curahuasi is in the region of Apurimac, known as the poorhouse of Peru. 500,000 people, predominantly Quecha Indians, live in this area in abject poverty. There are 2.8 doctors per 10,000 inhabitants (in Germany there are 33), who practise only in the cities. Curahuasi is 125 km from Cusco. Its altitude at 2,600 m results in an extremely mild climate that is beneficial to the recovery of the patients.
Will you treat all patients for free?
A person´s dignity makes it necessary for each patient to pay a certain amount towards his medical care. Handouts reduce patients to beggars and cause new dependencies. Since, however, most of the mountain Indians cannot afford the costs of modern treatment, they rely on subsidies from the hospital charity fund. The hospital is a charitable institution but will never give away more than it has received in gifts.
How can I support this charity work in Peru?
There are three ways you can support Diospi Suyana: by sending your donation to one of the accounts stated; by making your neighbours, friends and co-workers aware of the work of Diospi Suyana and by praying regularly for the patients and staff of the hospital.
What is your motivation for such a daring undertaking?
In a world increasingly filled with fear for the future and desperation, we have a very sure hope, based on our faith in Jesus Christ. In the death and resurrection of Christ, God´s unconditional love gave us an eternal hope which overcomes the physical needs of man in the here and now. As followers of Jesus Christ, Christians are called to take on their neighbour´s need as their own (Matt. 25, Luke 4).
What will be the spectrum of diseases treated at the hospital?
The spectrum of illnesses to be treated is wide, from appendicitis, gall stones, open fractures, pneumonia to obstetric emergencies. The poverty of the mountain Indians, however, also results in other illnesses such as tuberculosis and infestation with worms. Children in particular are at risk if respiratory and intestinal infections are not given adequate medical treatment.
Do the shining path terrorists pose a danger to the mission hospital?
The maoist terrorist organization Sendero Luminoso “Shining Path” was to a great extent crushed at the beginning of the 90s. Active supporters of this movement at present are estimated at 150. Over the last few years the Apurimac region has not been subject to Shining Path activities.
Will the mission hospital receive any support from the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation?
No, nothing at all. All funding for the mission hospital comes from privat individuals and companies.
Will the hospital operate outside of the existing health care system in Peru?
Diospi Suyana desires close cooperation with the Peruvian state in the medical care of the Indians. The missionary hospital is by no means in competition with existing institutions.
What do people think about this vision?
Thousands of people have heard about the project via 670 presentations in Germany, in the US and Peru. 180 newspaper articles and interviews on radio and television have reached an audience of 20 million. Many have caught the vision. By the end of October 2007 a total of 3,300,000 US $ had been donated to the project and the list of interested volunteer staff members has grown to 80 names. It is also encouraging to see the hospital equipment donated to the project worth in excess of 1,850,000 US $.
What do the people of Curahuasi think about the hospital?
The Curahuasinos, as the inhabitants of Curahuasi are known, were very enthusiastic when they heard about the missionary hospital. For them, Diospi Suyana is the fulfillment of long-held hopes. The City Government has also lent its support to the project and exempted Diospi Suyana from ground tax when the plot was purchased in April 2003. The hospital was inaugurated on 31 August 2007 in the presence of 4500 people and the First Lady of Peru. Nine TV-teams brought the message of Diospi Suyana as "Hospital of Faith" to 6 million Peruvians.
Is there a good electicity and water supply for the hospital?
The hospital will be connected to the city electricity and water supplies of Curahuasi. In addition, its own cisterns and power generators will guarantee the smooth running of the hospital in the event of water being scarce or possible power cuts.
How will you ensure a quality education for missionary children?
In Curahuasi there are various schools that are open to the children of our staff from overseas. The lessons are of course in Spanish, the private schools have a high education level and can be supplemented by a correspondence course program at home. It is not planned to set up our own missionary school.