The government of Ecuador, through the Ministry of Public Health, announced on March 16 the deployment of 104 Comprehensive Health Care Teams (EAIS) to strengthen medical services in the canton of Santa Elena. The initiative aims to provide preventive and primary care in communities that are difficult to access, following the country’s Comprehensive Health Care Model.
The EAIS teams operate from 23 primary care units across the canton. Gabriela Contreras, district analyst for Preventive Care and Morbidity, said each unit is strategically composed. “Contamos con un médico, enfermera y un Técnico de Atención Primaria en Salud (TAPS), sumando, además, el contingente de un odontólogo para brindar un seguimiento permanente a la población asignada.”
These multidisciplinary teams extend their work beyond health centers by organizing outreach brigades that focus on vulnerable sectors. Their main activities include home visits for pregnant women, elderly people, individuals with disabilities, and patients with chronic illnesses who cannot travel; emergency brigades responding to natural events such as floods or fires; epidemiological surveillance for diseases like dengue, zika, chikungunya, and influenza; and comprehensive child health evaluations in coordination with programs from the Ministry of Human Development and local government agencies.
In addition to medical assistance, the Ministry is creating Health Clubs for groups such as pregnant women, adolescents, and older adults. These clubs offer workshops on healthy eating habits and promote medicinal gardens while supporting intercultural health initiatives.
With this territorial deployment, the Ministry of Public Health said it remains committed to overcoming geographic barriers and ensuring that access to healthcare becomes an effective right throughout Santa Elena.
