Peru: Failed State of Health: Health emergency in indigenous peoples of Espinar, Peru
Date of Publication
2021 12:00 AM
Security Theme
Human Rights
Keywords
Human Rights, right to life, right to healthcare, access to healthcare, minority protections, protection from harm, no discrimination, fair treatment
Description
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the already fragmented and underfunded Peruvian health system and exposed the gaps linked to inequality in access to the right to health in the country. The shortcomings of the health system highlighted by the pandemic reveal a Failed state of health that has for decades been the subject of an increasing body of complaints from individuals, groups and organizations – among whom, most importantly, are those affected by exposure to metals and toxic substances – calling on the state to comply with its obligations and ensure the right to health. The Ministry of Health has established that by 2020 more than 10 million people were at risk of exposure to heavy metals and other toxic substances and more than 6 million were at risk of exposure to arsenic and other metalloids.1 According to the Ministry of Health’s National Health Strategy for the Care of People Affected by Contamination with Heavy Metals and other Chemical Substances, the province of Espinar is an affected area and therefore people living there are at risk of exposure to metals and toxic substances.
Report Location
Peru: Failed State of Health: Health emergency in indigenous peoples of Espinar, Peru
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the already fragmented and underfunded Peruvian health system and exposed the gaps linked to inequality in access to the right to health in the country. The shortcomings of the health system highlighted by the pandemic reveal a Failed state of health that has for decades been the subject of an increasing body of complaints from individuals, groups and organizations – among whom, most importantly, are those affected by exposure to metals and toxic substances – calling on the state to comply with its obligations and ensure the right to health. The Ministry of Health has established that by 2020 more than 10 million people were at risk of exposure to heavy metals and other toxic substances and more than 6 million were at risk of exposure to arsenic and other metalloids.1 According to the Ministry of Health’s National Health Strategy for the Care of People Affected by Contamination with Heavy Metals and other Chemical Substances, the province of Espinar is an affected area and therefore people living there are at risk of exposure to metals and toxic substances.
