Project Summary

If you are interested in community development join our rural public health volunteering in Ecuador focusing on indigenous people.  Working with a local organisation this placement works with the indigenous communities of Riobamba, a city in the Andean region of Ecuador.  The project runs community outreach and provides education on subjects such as avoiding teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug addiction and nutrition.  These are all common problems that exist in the communities of the indigenous population of this province.  Access to healthcare and healthcare education is limited for these communities and the people live on very low incomes.  The programme is headed up by a former hospital business manager who saw that there was a need to provide essential education to these communities while incorporating their traditional values and practices.  On occasions, he obtains the support of local trained professionals to accompany him on his outreach clinics.

Why choose this project?

There is a major gap in the number of Ecuadorian medical professionals and volunteers help to fill in this gap. Nearly 30% of the population lives in largely poorer and rural communities, where access to health care is very limited. As a volunteer on this project you     will gain invaluable insight into the problems facing indigenous communities.  You will also understand how public health education initiatives are planned and implemented and incorporate traditional and modern views on medicine. You can support the local project team with the challenge facing them in helping to education indigenous communities about important health issues.

Role of the volunteer

There is a major gap in the number of Ecuadorian medical professionals and volunteers help to fill in this gap. Nearly 30% of the population lives in largely poorer and rural communities, where access to health care is very limited. As a volunteer on this project, not only will you gain invaluable insight into the problems facing indigenous communities you will also understand how public health education initiatives are planned and implemented and incorporate traditional and modern views on medicine. You can support the local project team with the challenge facing them in helping to education indigenous communities about important health issues.

Skills Required

Volunteers will work with the local project leader who is responsible for organising and running the mobile clinic and the public health awareness sessions that are delivered in and to the local communities. If you have a specific area of study that you wish to focus on please discuss this with a Kaya advisor, for example nutrition. Options for awareness campaigns in HIV and sexual health education, nutrition, alcohol and drug awareness and general hygiene exist. You may be asked to take vital information about patients to help with record keeping. If you have a form of exercise that will interest the local population you may be able to run session in the community once you have agreed your approach with the local team.

You will be asked to send your CV/resume and attend a Skype interview before being accepted onto this placement. Unfortunately, qualified doctors and nurses are not accepted onto this project.

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