Ecuador won independence from Spain in the early 19th century. The legacy of Ecuador’s colonial past, as well as it’s Inca history, is reflected in its ethnically diverse population.
Médecins Sans Frontières first worked in Ecuador in 1996. We returned in 2016 to help in the aftermath of two devastating earthquakes. MSF teams already operating in South America responded by travelling to Manabí and Esmeralda provinces, two of the worst-affected areas, to assist in providing mental health support and distributing relief items.
In addition to natural disaster relief, MSF teams have been involved in providing support to local healthcare networks and have assisted in bolstering medical infrastructure in relation to HIV prevalence, and maternal health.