"It provides a gateway into clinical work in Ecuador, a cultural experience through the homestay, and strong social support through the school." - Glynnis Gracia, Nursing, Columbia University School of Nursing
Introduction
Program Fee
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Location
During the first week of the program, students will be in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador. It is a lively city of nearly 1 million inhabitants from all walks of life. For the remaining three weeks of the program, students will be based in Puyo located in Pastaza Province. Puyo is a small city with 28,000 inhabitants in the jungle about 6 hours by bus from Quito. Although it is a rural town, Puyo does offer modern conveniences such as internet, cell phone services, banks and many other touristic attractions. In Puyo there is a large indigenous population (Kichwas, Shuar, Achuar, Shiwiar, Huaoranni and Zapara). The Community Medicine program also will take students into rural villages and communities in the Pastaza area.
Photos To view photos of CFHI participants at this location and other CFHI sites check out our CFHI Picasa Web Albums as well as Flickr photos online. You can also click on our “Photo Gallery” bullet on the right side menu.
For information about Ecuador's health indicators provided by the World Health Organization, please click on the following link: WHO-Ecuador
*CFHI does not endorse any services provided by these sites nor does it guarantee the accuracy of their information.
Recommended Vaccinations Please visit your local public health office, or travel clinic and heed the advice of a travel physician. You should have all your routine childhood and adult vaccinations as required, including yellow fever for some countries, at least 4 weeks prior to departure. Be sure to set up a doctor's appointment up 4 to 6 weeks before your trip. Please click herefor a detailed explanation from the CDC of routine, required and recommended vaccinations.
Recommended vaccinations (according to risk): These vaccines are recommended to protect travelers from illnesses present in other parts of the world and to prevent the importation of infectious diseases across international borders.
CFHI does not require verification of recommended vaccinations; however we strongly suggest getting all CDC recommended vaccinations. Please click here for a list of CDC recommended vaccinations for Ecuador.
The following hospitals and clinics are a sample of possible rotations during this program. Restrictions may apply for pre-clinical, pre-med, and those students with minimal Spanish skills.
CFHI's rotations are designed to offer you clinical and observational experiences relevant to your level of medical education. CFHI programs can be predominately observational depending on your previous clinical training, your level of Spanish, local laws that prevent foreigners from directly providing healthcare services and whether the preceptors who will be supervising you trust your clinical skills. Rotation availability depends on local conditions.
This program focuses on a holistic approach to community medicine in rural areas including indigenous health. Participants will gain exposure to common diseases such as: scabies, fungal infections, parasites, malaria, diarrhea, pulmonary infections, pneumonia and TB, as well as public health issues facing the community. Please note that in Ecuador the doctors only receive pay for 4 hours per day and usually only in the mornings or early afternoon.
QUITO
Hospital Carlos Andrade Marin del IESS During the first week in Quito, participants will get a chance to rotate at Hospital Carlos Andrade Marin del IESS (Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social). To visit their website, click here. This semi-public tertiary hospital includes all specialties (Área Materno Infantil, Servicio de Estomatología, Servicio de Oncología y Radioterápia, Servicio de Neurología, Servicio de Nefrología, Servicio de Urología, Servicio de Gastroenterología, Servicio de Oftalmología, Servicio de Obstetricia, Servicio de Cardiología, Servicio de Rehabilitación, Cirugía General, Centro de Alto Riesgo Obstétrico, Comité de Infectología).
PUYO
Hospital Voz Andes de Shell Hospital Voz Andes de Shell is located in the village of Shell, about a 10 minute bus ride from Puyo. It serves the city of Puyo and its surrounding villages. The facility is a non-profit and non-governmental organization run by American missionaries and primarily serves a low-income population from Puyo and surrounding villages in the jungle. Most patients receive free or low cost healthcare at this facility. The hospital has 35 beds and offers the following services: medicine, surgery, internal medicine, OB/GYN, E.R, and hospitalization. They also preform surgeries and endoscopies. Students will rotate with local physicians at this facility.
Servicio Nacional de Erradicacion de Malaria (SNEM) This is a small, under-funded center charged with combating malaria in three provinces, including Pastaza, covering a vast area of the Ecuadorian Amazon. At this site, students will help in compiling malaria statistics and research outbreaks in the Amazon. Students studying for a Masters in Public Health are welcome to participate in research projects if they are interested.
Indigenous Community visits Students are invited to visit and experience a local indigneous community first-hand. Participants will learn about the health of the Shuar culture. Students will learn about the importance of plants for the Shuar: to flavor food, heal wounds, cure headaches, to fish, to sow and harvest fruits and vegetables, to hunt; in general, to survive in the jungle and continue their way of life. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn about Shuar culture and family life. For instance, that Shuar men may have as many as four wives and ten children with each wife.
Click here to view video footage taken by a CFHI student during a site visit to an indigenous community.
Seguro Social Campesino Seguro Social Campesino is a non-profit organization that provides healthcare services in rural areas. It is comprised of several clinics located at various communities that are 1 to 2 hours away from Puyo. Among these are Madre Tierra, San Jose, Capricho and Vencedores, which offer primary healthcare services, odontology, as well as house and community outreach visits within the designated area of each clinic. About 8 to 16 patients are seen at each of these clinics daily.
Centro de Saludo El Dorado Is a government-run rural primary healthcare clinic, located 20 minutes from the town of Puyo, which offers all Public Health Ministry services and programs. Each doctor at the clinic see between 8 to 20 patients daily. Services offered include primary healthcare services, odontology, as well as house and community outreach visits. Participants are generally encouraged to participate and provide healthcare education presentations for patients at the clinic and communities they may visit with local preceptors.
Fundacion Casa de Fe Is a non-profit orphanage located near Puyo. Participants are encouraged to help provide care for the children and promote early stimulation. Around 40 children can be found at this orphanage. Participants are able to help by providing an extra set of hands which are usually sorely needed.
Asociacion de Diabeticos de Hipertensos de Pastaza (Diabetic Association) Is a non-profit center that offers services and educational workshops for the prevention of primary and secondary complications due to diabetes and other non-tranmissable diseases.
All rotations are subject to change depending on local availability and general Ecuadorian holidays. Local coordinators will try and make alternate arrangements if a particular activity or facility is not available during the program month.
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