Ana Guzmán, a 22-year-old residing in the San Judas Tadeo residential area, in the Veintiséis de Octubre district of the Piura region, and a mother of three daughters, faced enormous challenges during the intense rains that devastated her region. "My daily routine involves taking care of my three babies. My eldest daughter goes to school while I look after the little ones at home. In the afternoons, I help my eldest daughter with her homework," Ana shares about her daily life amid the climatic crisis.

The rainy season wreaked havoc on her community, hindering access to essential services, especially for pregnant mothers like Ana. The "Saving Lives" project, an initiative by CERF and UNFPA, was crucial for women in her situation.

"When the obstetrician arrived, she examined me, and upon detecting warning signs, they first took me to the medical post and then immediately to the private hospital. I gave birth that same morning through a cesarean section. The obstetrician was like an angel to me and my baby," recounts Ana, grateful for the intervention of one of the obstetrician-brigadiers from the project that saved both her life and that of her newborn.

This project ensured that Ana and 4,608 other women received home care and support from specialists in sexual and reproductive health. Despite floods reaching heights of up to 120 cm, affecting her home and complicating access to the health center, help arrived on time.

Today, Ana focuses on her family and completing her studies, with the aim of providing a better future for her children. Her story is not only a testimony of resilience but also of the vital impact that timely access to specialized medical care, especially sexual and reproductive health services in emergency contexts, can have.

CERF's Commitment to Health and Inclusion

UNFPA in Peru, with the support of CERF funds, continues its commitment to providing sexual and reproductive health services, as well as protection for women and adolescents affected by floods in the northern part of the country. These initiatives include strengthening primary care and pregnancy monitoring, ensuring access to family planning services and reproductive health kits in health centers, thus ensuring a safer future for women and families in emergency situations.