RESEARCH IN TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE IN PERU

Tropical medicine's fundamental task is to improve health in the tropi cs. By adopting primary health care strategies, it satisfies the real needs of the population while doing research, improving its effectiven ess and social impact. We ilustrate this with some examples drawn from our experience, where this potentiation is evident. A sanitary dermat ology study, based on health auxiliaries and promoters, encompassed a whole Jungle Province, with 68 977 km2 and 103 681 inhabitants. It res ulted in an excellent relationship with the populations, and findings of significance for early diagnosis and control of hanseniasis and oth er diseases. It also facilitated an extension of activities to include the entire Amazonian Region, with specific concentration on training of the health personnel. Clinico-epidemiological studies on leshmanias is in Andean valleys incorporated acitivities of sanitary education, h ealth care, aspects of community development, etc., and extended into other geographic areas. Migrant workers from high-altitude communities in Cusco who have been to the Jungle and acquired cutaneous or mucocu taneous leismaniasis formed Patient Associations. The latter now recei ve support for their health and development needs from health authorit ies and many institutions; our Institute contributes with improved the rapeutic procedures and further epidemiologic studies to orient preven tive and control measures.