Settlement "Las Américas"

IN ONE OF MY PREVIOUS POSTS, to be more specific from August 10, 2009 I have shared with you all on the rapid emergence of new communities or human settlements in Nuevo Chimbote district (Chimbote south). At first all of them begin as an invasion, by people who have no their own place to live and most of them are young family parents that previously lived together with their parents-in-law or renting a room, in the best of cases. Invading muncipality or government's lands is the first step then all these families form their board of directors and so the name of the new human settlement appears.

This way was formed the human settlement called "Las Américas" on January 31, 2009. Families that compose it are waiting that, in a near or far future, Provincial Municipality of Santa grant them their ownership titles. So, since around a year ago these families are living on the land as invaders only. However the current president (for communities is mostly known as general secretary in Perú) of the board of directors of "Las Américas" told me they, including each member of the settlement, very often meet to see the issues related to their ownership titles and not only this but other matters inherent to the birth of a new settlement such as clean drinking water supply, security, child nutrition, medical care, sewer, etc.

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Chocolate Party

A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION (ONG) called "Vida y Esperanza" (Life and Hope) together with a Christian church called "Iglesia de Dios de la Profecía" (Church of God of Prophecy) have organized a chocolate party (chocolatada in Spanish) which includes a drink made of milk and chocolate and, a piece of special Christmas loave (panetón in Spanish) to share with the poor children living around Ramal Playa neighborhood where church is located here in Chimbote.

Such event was held on Tuesday December 22nd in the afternoon at church. Children who were walking by church were invited to participate as well. (Some of them were participating previously at Christmas shows that were organized by other institutions who gave some toys to them.)

But not only children came to the church to the chocolate party but their moms as well. Each of them were enjoying a glass of chocolate with panetón because members of the ONG and church helped out and did their best for children to enjoy Christmas holidays and the most important thing for them to learn that Christmas means sharing with those people in need.

ONG Staff itself collaborated and also applied for goodwill people their support for this chocolate party for the poor children to come true. It was a good partnership between ONG and churh for children.

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Christmas For Children

THIS YEAR, JUST AS EVERY YEAR, AND BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS the Provincial Municipality of Santa (MPS) has organized a celebration where children of the poorest neighborhoods of Chimbote were participating. This event took place on Saturday December 19th in the morning at Hidrandina quarters which is located very near the wharf of Chimbote. The mayoress of Chimbote Mrs. Victoria Espinoza was present as well as some officers of municipality such as Dr. Azucena Enríquez head of Social Development Office. All of them and even Ladies' Committee of MPS were helping out.

Many children were present and each of them received gifts: A small Christmas bread and a toy. Besides there was a children show including music, clowns, games, etc and also there were special gifts such as: Bicycles and Christmas baskets (with groceries) which were given through a raffle. A few days before the event tickets were distributed to the children in their neighborhoods by municipality. These tickets made possible for them to enter to Hidrandina and to take part in the raffle.

All of the needy children who could participate spent a very good time and have fun as they celebrated Christmas however there were many children outside as well waiting to enter even after the event started. It was a great effort of municipality by trying to bring happiness to the children of Chimbote and this way to remember and celebrate Jesus' birth.

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Health Project MUNISALUD

IN AN EFFORT FOR SATISFAYING THE EVER-GROWING DEMAND for health services of the people of Chimbote, the Provincial Municipality of Santa, led by the Mayoress Mrs. Victoria Espinoza and together with her corresponding team have developed a Health Project called MUNISALUD which is intended to provide such services to population at low cost (half of what patients pay at hospitals of government.)

To achieve that purpose, the Municipality has acquired four buses specially equipped which operate as mobile consulting rooms, laboratory, pharmacy, etc. necessary to attend patients. These buses are located on a side of "28 de Julio" square and in front of Tourists Hotel in Chimbote where patients have to go for medical care.

The coordinator of this project is Dr. Johnny Jesús Cano Suárez who gently received me at his office located in one of the buses and told me that project implementation started on November 12. Medical staff attend patients from Tuesday to Friday from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm. On Saturdays the four buses and medical staff head to poorest neighborhoods of Chimbote to hold health campaigns for free.

Here are the medical services on each bus:

• 1st bus: Emergency Room and Consulting Room (General Medicine 2)
• 2nd bus: Obstetrics, Dentistry and Psychology
• 3rd bus: Laboratory and Consulting Room (General Medicine 1)
• 4th bus: Pharmacy, Ultrasound and MUNISALUD Coordinator's office

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Happy Anniversary Chimbote !!!

ON DECEMBER 6th OF EACH YEAR IT IS CELEBRATED ANNIVERSARY OF CHIMBOTE CITY. Let me share with you a brief summary about the beginnings of my city. On December 6th, 1906 Chimbote already occupied its own space in the scenary of national affairs. Extraction of fertilizer from islands and agricultural production in *Santa valley have awarded it the commercial leadership in region and thus the pace of a city of quick growth. (*Santa, Chimbote, Nuevo Chimbote, Nepeña, etc are districts which belong to Santa Province in Ancash Department.)

This way, its elevation to the rank of district does not represent any unmerited favors to Chimbote but, on the contrary, a legitimate and historical act of justice. Since the middle of the 19th century the then small port had already aroused interest of both national and foreign investors, attracted by its incomparable bay and its privileged status as head of the valleys Santa, Lacramarca y Nepeña.

It was nevertheless from 1906 year, after acquiring its full administrative and political autonomy, that Chimbote receives a true avalanche of immigrants who came in search of new opportunities and who don't hesitate to call it "Chimbote, Promised Land" today also known as "Fishing, Steel and Friendship Capital. Looking back these 103 years of political life we see with gratitude that the progress achieved so far is the announcement of new and higher goals and for whose fulfilment all people of Chimbote are working."

This year Chimbote city was celebrating its 103rd anniversary which started on Tuesday December 1st to Sunday December 6th. Municipality set many activities for celebration among them were: Cultural events, school competitions, inauguration of public works, mass marriages, sports events, children's shows, cooking show, parades, etc. Happy Anniversary Chimbote City!!!

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