The Government of the United States, through USAID and the NGO World Vision, supports Venezuelan health professionals residing in Peru to validate their qualifications and become registered to work in hospitals and save lives.
USAID partner Union Venezolana, Peru’s leading Venezuela diaspora organization, has assembled a database of nearly 5,000 Venezuelan medical doctors living in Peru who would like to gain local recognition of their medical degree, but don’t have the resources to do so. Furthermore, these doctors have also expressed a willingness to work for Peru’s understaffed public health sector in underserved rural areas.
Through the Certification Program for Migrant Doctors, Nurses and Professional Technicians in Peru, USAID with World Vision and Union Venezolana, is helping Venezuelan doctors gain local recognition of their degrees, a cumbersome process which is out of reach for most of them because of the nearly $700 price tag. Although the program only started in February 2020, 21 Venezuelan doctors have been accredited by the Medical College of Peru and they expect to accredit nearly 60 more in coming months. These doctors are eager to work and to contribute to Peru’s efforts to combat COVID-19. Several are already working for the public health service in the country. Among them are epidemiologists, pediatricians, cardiologists, and anesthesiologists.
World Vision - USAID/Peru