The La Nueva Infancia caravan provided essential health services to the citizens of the Chontapunta parish in the Tena canton, province of Napo. Around 300 people attended the event, which was organized by the Ministry of Public Health. Vaccination stands, general medical care, obstetrics, dentistry, and healthy eating services were made available to the residents of the 77 communities in the area.
Mothers like Karina Andi and Eva Tanguila took advantage of the caravan to ensure the health of their children and themselves. Andi brought her 4-month-old baby for a healthy child checkup and vaccination, while Tanguila, who is 27 weeks pregnant, received prenatal care. The presence of obstetricians, such as Vanessa Matta, from the Ñucanchiñllacta Health Center, was crucial in providing care to pregnant women.
The event also focused on ensuring that children under 5 years old received their regular vaccinations. Dozens of families brought their children to update their vaccination schedule and received doses to prevent diseases such as polio, measles, and rubella.
“Allison Cumbe, a rural doctor who treated 10 children under 5 years of age, emphasized the importance of keeping children and pregnant women healthy for a better future for Ecuador. This initiative is part of the Ecuador Grows Without Chronic Childhood Malnutrition Strategy, and the Ministry of Public Health is working in collaboration with other institutions to achieve this goal. The success of the La Nueva Infancia caravan demonstrates the commitment to providing essential healthcare services to communities in need.