Missions focus on under-served populations in Peru, and provide a full host of medical, surgical, dental, mental health, and educational services.
Mission 1 — Selva in Action
The Peruvian Amazon Jungle
It is the area of the Amazon rainforest included within the country of Peru, from east of the Andes to the borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil and Bolivia. This region comprises 60% of the country. We have teamed with the SIA in the villages of Centro Fuente, Sargento Lores and Punto Alegre, where we have consistently served over 600 villagers yearly.
Medical Mission 101
Improve access to health care, promote wellness and education, and provide economic development linkages for the people living along the Rio Momón, a few hours away from Iquitos, Perú.
It’s Importance
Underfunded and underequipped, Peruvian health workers make do with what they have to deliver services to indigenous communities deep in the Amazonian jungle. But with some villages several days away from health services, reaching them is no easy task.
Mission 2 — Chincha Polyclinic 2025
Origin and Purpose of the Missions
The missions to Policlinico PAMS in Chincha—located 200 km south of Lima—are held annually and bring together Peruvian and American medical professionals from various specialties. These missions aim to support the Policlinico, which was built in response to the devastating 2007 earthquake that claimed many lives and caused extensive damage in the cities of Pisco and Chincha, especially to healthcare infrastructure.
Evolution of the Policlinico and Missions
Since the clinic opened its doors in 2011, it has hosted 4–5 missions per year, with a temporary pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, both the clinic and the missions have continued to evolve and grow. What began with very limited services, relying heavily on mission visits for specialty care, has now become a permanent facility offering a wide range of medical services.
Current Services and Mission Outreach
Today, the Policlinico has a dedicated permanent staff and provides services such as laboratory testing, X-rays, ultrasound, mammograms, physical therapy, and specialty care in gastroenterology, urology, gynecology, ophthalmology, cardiology, and dentistry.
During each mission, The South Florida Chapter – PAMS not only treat patients in the immediate area, but we also extend outreach to smaller health centers in surrounding communities and facilitate transportation for patients from Pisco to receive care at the clinic.
Impact, Development, and Volunteer Opportunities
In recent years, we have supported the clinic’s ongoing development and have expanded the impact of our missions. On average, we attend to about 1,200 patients per mission and contribute between $3,500 and $5,000 to help cover patient care expenses. We are actively working to integrate mental health services and increase cancer screening to support early detection and prevention efforts.
We are committed to continuing our support for the Policlinico and welcome volunteers—not only medical professionals, but anyone with a heart to help and a hand to lend.
Mission 3 — Causa-Sonrisa
CAUSA SONRISA: Healing Smiles in the Peruvian Amazonas Region
CAUSA Sonrisa is a PAMS South Florida Chapter mission that works in partnership with the international nonprofit Healing the Children organization. Our mission is to identify, transport, and facilitate life-changing surgical treatment to children born with cleft lip and cleft palate in the remote and underserved communities of the Peruvian Amazon region.
Challenges Faced by Children with Cleft Conditions
Each year, many children in this region are born with cleft conditions—congenital facial anomalies that affect their ability to eat, speak, breathe, and thrive. In areas where access to specialized surgical care is limited or non-existent, these children often face not only medical complications but also social stigma and isolation.
Our Partnership with Healing the Children
Through our collaboration with Healing the Children, we identify and screen children in need through local outreach, community health workers, and rural clinics. We organize transportation and accommodations to ensure safe travel from rural and deep jungle communities of the Amazonas region to the Healing the Children surgical center located in the city of Ica, Peru. We also provide pre- and post-operative care, follow-up, and long-term support when needed.
Join Us in Bringing Hope and Healing
This mission is more than medical—it's about restoring confidence, dignity, and a future full of possibilities to children and their families. Every child deserves a healthy smile and a chance to thrive, no matter where they are born. Whether through donating or spreading the word, you can be part of this life-transforming mission. Together, we can bring hope and healing—one child at a time. Because every smile matters.
Become a lifesaver.
Volunteer with PAMS South Florida Chapter now.