First Shelter for People with XDR Tuberculosis Becomes a Reality in Puente Piedra
Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) is one of the most severe and rare forms of this infectious disease. According to the Peruvian Ministry of Health (Minsa), around 100 new cases are reported each year in Peru.
Economic hardship, social abandonment, and lack of family support are major barriers to ensuring treatment continuity for people affected by tuberculosis (PAT). These challenges not only impact patients’ quality of life but also affect their communities.
As part of the País TB-VIH 2022-2025 Project, funded by the Global Fund to Fight TB, HIV, and Malaria—in coordination with the National Multisectoral Health Coordinator (CONAMUSA) and Minsa, and implemented by Socios En Salud—work began in February on Peru’s first shelter for people diagnosed with XDR-TB who are in situations of social and economic vulnerability.
The inauguration of the Esperanza y Fortaleza shelter, located in Puente Piedra, was attended by Dr. César Vásquez, Minister of Health; Dr. Odalis Jiménez, Director of Diris Lima Norte; Fabiola Rojas, Vice President of CONAMUSA; Dr. Leonid Lecca, Director of Socios En Salud, and other distinguished guests.
Socios En Salud – TB Shelter
To ensure proper patient care, the shelter will be staffed by medical personnel and six nurses available 24/7.
Managed by the Lima Norte Integrated Health Networks Directorate (DIRIS Lima Norte), this shelter will provide essential care and support to ensure treatment adherence for people with XDR-TB while also helping to reduce community transmission.
Beyond lodging and meals, residents will receive regular medical evaluations and psychosocial support to promote social reintegration. Activities will focus on self-care, social engagement, recreation, and leisure.
With a capacity for up to 15 people during the intensive treatment phase (approximately 6 to 12 months), the shelter features three floors, a medical station, two consultation rooms, and dedicated spaces for both patients and healthcare staff.
Socios En Salud and the Fight Against TB
For 27 years, Socios En Salud (SES) has worked through its Tuberculosis Program to strengthen public health efforts, applying modern scientific advances to combat TB and its variants. By implementing active case-finding strategies in partnership with communities and civil society, SES continues to play a crucial role in TB intervention.
We remain committed to a Peru where no one should die from a disease that has a cure—advocating for an integrated health approach and prioritizing the most vulnerable communities.