Medical Post and Animal Rescue Center in San Juan de Yanayacu

MEDICAL POST

The remote communities of Ayacucho, San Juan de Yanayacu, and Junín face immense challenges due to their isolated location along Amazon tributaries. Access to basic services—especially timely and ongoing medical care—is severely limited.

The nearest clinic is across the Amazon River in Porvenir, a long, costly, and often impassable journey. During the dry season, from June to December, water levels drop significantly, making navigation impossible in small boats. This isolation limits access not only to healthcare but also to education and other essential services.

Residents also face daily health risks from venomous snakes, including the fer-de-lance (Bothrops atrox) and the bushmaster (Lachesis muta). In the event of a bite, victims must reach a clinic immediately to receive antivenom; without prompt treatment, the risk of death is high. Yet antivenom and trained personnel are not available locally, and travel to the nearest clinic can take up to eight hours, depending on river conditions and the family’s boat.

Many of these conditions go untreated or uncontrolled, sometimes resulting in preventable complications such as vision loss in elderly patients with diabetes or hypertension.

The construction of a local clinic would transform healthcare access for these riverside communities. The clinic would provide:

• • Continuous, high-quality primary care
  • Reduced emergency transfers to distant facilities
  • Prevention, vaccination, and control programs for endemic diseases such as malaria, dengue, and leishmaniasis
  • Maternal and child health services and health education
  • Beds to stabilize or support patients recovering from serious illnesses

Establishing this clinic is a vital step toward closing health gaps, strengthening primary care, and fulfilling the Peruvian government’s commitments to equity, territorial development, and social justice. With governmental support for its construction and equipment, the clinic will be a strategic investment in the sustainable well-being and public health of the Amazon region.

The Peruvian government has approved the construction of the clinic in October 2025. We are now seeking funds for the project’s implementation.

ANIMAL RESCUE CENTER

Executive Summary
The Nevada Building Hope Foundation, with the support of our partner organizations, Grand Amazon Tours, Curassow Amazon Lodge, and RAREC (Rainforest Awareness, Rescue, and Education Center), is designing and implementing a project to build an animal rescue center  in San Juan de Yanayacu, Peru. The center will serve both as a rescue and rehabilitation facility for injured, displaced, or endangered animals and as an educational resource to promote conservation in the Amazon Basin. The animal rescue center will be located adjacent to the proposed medical clinic in San Juan de Yanayacu. We will consider this center as part of a new health and wellness campus for both people and animals.

The Deficiency Without This Project
San Juan de Yanayacu and other communities along the Yanayacu River are home to countless animals. Many of these animals are threatened or endangered. While the community works hard to protect wildlife, its ability to act is limited without adequate facilities. Shelter is essential for injured wildlife until RAREC can administer treatment or arrange transport to its primary rescue facility.

Project Objectives

1. Rescue and Rehabilitation: Provide shelter, care, and treatment to at-risk wildlife, particularly those affected by habitat destruction, deforestation, or illegal hunting.
2. Conservation of Endangered Species: Prioritize the treatment and protection of endangered species. When these animals are found, RAREC will be contacted to help design specialized care plans.
3. Local First Responders: We will train a local member of San Juan de Yanayacu to be the first responder when an injured animal arrives in the community. This person will be the first point of contact and will then contact our partners at Grand Amazon Lodge or RAREC (Rainforest Awareness, Rescue, and Education Center).
4. Veterinary Care for Domestic Animals: Establish a pantry stocked with dry dog food and basic medical supplies, including vaccines, to serve the local dog and cat population. Veterinarians can also use the hospital to spay and neuter pets and help control populations.
5. Community Education: Provide educational opportunities for residents and tourists to increase awareness about wildlife conservation and responsible animal care.

Strategic Partnerships

• RAREC: Will provide expert support in the care and rehabilitation of wildlife, especially endangered species.
• Grand Amazon Lodge: NBHF partner and home to Alfredo Dosantos, a trained biologist and owner of Grand Amazon Lodge. Alfredo will assess the immediate needs of injured or rescued animals and coordinate with RAREC to implement appropriate care plans.
• Curassow Amazon Lodge: Martin De Silva Saavedra owner of the Curassow Amazon Lodge and his team will serve as our liaison in Ayacucho Village and the surrounding region, working directly with RAREC. The center will be named the Martin De Silva Saavedra Animal Rescue Center.
• Local Communities: The involvement of community leaders and families will be critical part of this project. The community members will assist in the building of the animal rescue center. Local members of San Juan de Yanayacu will be trained to serve as first responders. when an injured animal arrives.

Facilities and Services
• Animal enclosures designed according to international animal welfare standards
• Quarantine and rehabilitation areas
• A food pantry with food, medicine, and vaccines for domestic animals
• Educational signage and informational materials for visitors and locals

Conclusion
This initiative supports Peru’s national goals for biodiversity protection, animal welfare, and sustainable development in the Amazon. It addresses urgent issues such as wildlife trafficking, injuries, and displacement, while supporting the care of domestic animals in neglected areas.

This is a much-needed project. The community of San Juan de Yanayacu is located on the outskirts of the Tamshiyacu Tahuayo Regional Conservation Area, a region renowned for its abundant wildlife and exceptionally high biodiversity. This area is home to hundreds of species of mammals, primates, birds, fish, and other wildlife. The people of San Juan are deeply committed to the conservation and protection of this vital ecological reserve.

By partnering with RAREC and engaging with local communities, the animal rescue center will have a lasting positive impact on the region’s ecosystem and foster a deeper cultural connection with wildlife.

We currently have plans and a budget for the proposed the animal rescue center. At this stage of the project, we are exploring opportunities and funding sources to make this vision a reality.

Medical Clinic and Animal Rescue Center Construction Plan:

Ryan Watson Ambulance Boat

In February 2023, the Nevada Building Hope Foundation experienced a profound loss when a cherished member of the NBHF family, Ryan Watson, tragically lost his life in a fatal air crash while serving as a paramedic flight crew member.

He was more than a healthcare professional—Ryan was a role model to the children living in our three jungle communities. He was committed to making life better for the people living in Ayacucho, San Juan de Yanayacu, and Junin villages. Ryan sponsored two children who looked up to him, respected him, and, more importantly, loved him. In 2024, Ryan Mendoza Panduro was born in Ayacucho Village.

The NBHF is raising funds to purchase an ambulance boat in Ryan’s honor. This ambulance boat will be a vital component of the new proposed medical post in San Juan de Yanayacu.