Fifteen thousand Peruvian children are victims of body burns every year. Children between 2 and 5 years of age from the poorest areas of the country are the most affected. Compressive garments, together with physical and occupational therapies, are the perfect remedy to treat physical burn scars. These garments are custom-made for each patient and are readjusted periodically. Made to use daily, for 24 hours, the garments are to be removed only during showers or to eat in some cases.
Burn injuries leave scars for life; therefore, our work allows attenuating these scars and, most importantly, recovering the functionality of the affected limb. Most victims do not have the resources to access treatments and garments, as it is usually more challenging for those with low economic resources. This affects the patients terribly because the physical and emotional impact is very strong, reaching the lowest levels of depression, making them lose the will to live sometimes.
Although the scars are not only physical but also psychological, the elastic garments, together with therapy, perfectly complement the treatment against burn sequels, stopping their growth, avoiding itching, and diminishing the reddish coloration. These custom-made garments provide the perfect amount of pressure on the entire scar. Because of constant use, they loosen up a little but are frequently readjusted to achieve the exact pressure at all times.
The project will cover 4 sets of elastic garments for 150 burned children from the districts of San Juan de Lurigancho, Villa El Salvador, San Martin de Porres, Ate, Villa Maria del Triunfo, and Comas, which are the areas with the highest incidence, making a total of 1200 sets of garments for the first year of treatment. In this way, patients can gradually feel accepted by themselves and by our highly discriminating society. Your support will give a burn survivor a new chance!
