Local Perspective
Although Cristobal Colón marks the last stop of the infrequent bus – where the narrow dirt road literally disappears into the Canande River – for its residents and many of its neighbors, the small town represents not the last, but the first point of contact to modern amenities. The endless expanse of woodlands that hug the town's borders, commonly referred to as adentro (simply meaning inside), is home to several communities and countless isolated family farms.
Residents of Cristobal Colón and adentro have few opportunities to escape the abysmal conditions in which they live. The limited economic opportunities force most to live in extreme poverty. Based on the conducted research, the average cash income of a household in Cristobal Colón is 5USD per day. If divided evenly among all members of a household, including children, this averages out to a mere 0.62 USD per person per day. To put this number into perspective, the round trip bus ride to the nearest rural health facility costs 1USD.For the community of Cristobal Colón, isolation, poverty, and lack of opportunities – combined with harmful environmental factors, such as endemic tropical diseases and unsafe water sources – result in severely adverse health conditions. These are only compounded by restricted access to medical services.
The community of Cristobal Colón and adentro is driven to improve the health conditions for themselves and their children. According to community leaders, the optimal means of improving the status quo is by establishing a health center in the town to serve the surrounding population – a conclusion strongly supported by the conducted research. A lack of resources, however, incapacitates the community from accomplishing this goal. Outside donations are vital to creating the health center in Cristobal Colón. With modest help, the community can break the cycle of poor health and take the next steps to escaping poverty.
National Perspective
A small country on the tropical Pacific coast of South America, Ecuador is known for its pristine rainforests, dramatic Andean peaks, and the captivating Galapagos Islands. The famed biodiversity and landscapes, however, hide a tragic reality – a country whose people face great poverty, lack of opportunity, and poor health conditions. The situation is most desperate for those living in rural areas. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), four out of five rural living people are poor. And over a third of rural children exhibit signs of chronic malnutrition. In addition, the country suffers from a range of communicable diseases. Malaria, for example, is not only epidemic but also chloroquine-resistant (the predominate drug used for treatment). Rates of acute respiratory infections and diarrheic diseases have shown steady increases for the last ten years. The impact of such diseases is intensified by the deficiencies in medical services. The Ministry of Health, the main health care provider, delivers services to only 30% of the population. And almost half of the population does not have regular access to any form of health services.