Health in Yapatera

Yapatera is considered the largest Afro-Peruvian community in the country. Families subsist on small-scale mango, lime and rice farming and remittances from migrant relatives in Lima. A recent research study found that Afro-descendent households have the greatest incidence of chronic ill health problems compared to other population groups in Peru, including indigenous populations. However, because Afro-Peruvians have only recently been formally recognised by the Peruvian state as an ethnic group there is no provisioning of particular services to this population and they are socially excluded from many state and private services. The few state health resources that are available are under heavy demand and have long waiting periods. As a result most people opt to purchase private health care, but usually only once illnesses are very advanced and families are forced to pool together to meet the crippling costs. The knowledge that small lifestyle choices, such as what we eat and how active we are, can make a big impact on our health and wellbeing, is taken for granted in many parts of the world. Yapatera Corazon´s objective is to empower people to care for themselves, their families and their communities with this knowledge.

Afro-descendents in Peru

Yapatera, is a village in Northern Peru. Most of its inhabitants are the direct descendents of African slaves who were brought to work along Peru´s coast. Slavery is still a taboo subject in Peruvian society and racism and social exclusion affect this group as much as it affects Peru´s indigenous population. The difference is that Peru´s afro-descendents have had little attention from international onlookers and organisations.

What is the "Heart of Yapatera"?

Yapatera Corazon, or the "Heart of Yapatera", is a health education project in the Afro-descendent village of Yapatera in Northern Peru. We are a group of local residents who are worried about health problems, especially the extremely high risk of developing hypertension (high blood pressure) which is particular to our village. We have learned that exercise and other small lifestyle changes can make a huge difference to the quality of life here. Our proposal is to take our wellbeing into our own hands, to learn and educate about the benefits of physical activity and good nutrition, for all life stages. We plan to hold activities and workshops for women, men, seniors, children, youth and for people with chronic conditions. Our goal is a healthy, active community.