Peruvians run to raise awareness for organ donation
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More than 6,000 people participated in the “Lima Runs 5K for Organ and Tissue Donation” race in Lima, Peru, an event organised by EsSalud, Peru’s social health insurance program.
The race took place as part of the 2026 Organ and Tissue Donation Week, beginning and ending at Washington Park in the Cercado de Lima district. Runners followed a five-kilometer route along Arequipa Avenue to César Vallejo Avenue in the Lince district and back. EsSalud’s executive president, Dra.
Zulema Tomas Gonzales, started the race and awarded prizes to participants. These included transplant patients, donor families, people on waiting lists, health professionals, and other citizens. Dr. Tomas Gonzales stated that Peru is saving lives through transplants but lacks a strong culture of organ donation. Currently, over 7,000 people in Peru need organ or tissue transplants, specifically for the liver, kidney, cornea, lung, or pancreas.
EsSalud performs around 85% of the country’s transplants, utilizing eleven accredited facilities, 33 specialized transplant programs, six histocompatibility laboratories, and a national network of procurement units. Dr. Tomas Gonzales emphasized that the event supports her new focus on patient care and quality within EsSalud, and expressed her gratitude to participants for promoting donation.
