At the emergency unit of the José Casimiro Ulloa hospital in Lima, Venezuelan surgeon Yoalexis Tovar attends to a young woman intoxicated by food. At 40 years old, this doctor has made a significant impact in patient care thanks to a training program promoted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Peru and the hospital itself.
“I am a doctor who gives my best to save lives,” says Yoalexis, who arrived in Peru in 2018 in search of better opportunities after facing an economic crisis in his country that made it difficult for him to support his three children. Although his journey has not been easy and the validation of his medical degree took him more than a year, he managed to integrate into the Peruvian health system, allowing him to work and send financial support to his family.
Another Venezuelan doctor, Juan Miguel Someter, 42 years old, tells a similar story of overcoming. After arriving in Peru in 2019, he worked in the construction sector, but his aspiration to return to medicine materialized through the IOM training program. “This opportunity is like a dream come true,” he says while ensuring the well-being of one of his patients.
With approximately 1.6 million Venezuelan migrants and refugees in Peru, it is estimated that around 25,000 are healthcare professionals willing to contribute to their communities. Alberto González Guzmán, hospital director, emphasizes the importance of this integration: “If they are already here and we can integrate them into the system, we all win.”
By 2024, a medical internship program will be launched aimed at strengthening the capacities of both Peruvian and Venezuelan healthcare professionals, with the initial participation of 19 doctors. This initiative will take place alongside donations of medical equipment and ongoing training for healthcare workers. Jorge Martín, Coordinator of the Health and Migration Unit of the IOM in Peru, highlights that this effort goes beyond sharing knowledge, it is a bridge that connects Peruvian doctors with their migrant colleagues.
The joint work of Peruvian and Venezuelan doctors at the hospital ranges from minor wounds to critical cases. This collaboration not only reinforces their technical skills, but also promotes the social and economic integration of migrants in the community. Despite the melancholy of being separated from their families, both Yoalexis and Juan Miguel find strength and meaning in their work. “Distance taught me to be strong,” reflects Yoalexis, resonating with the shared resilience of doctors who turn adversity into an opportunity to contribute and grow, demonstrating that migration can be a path towards collective benefit.
Source: MiMub in Spanish
