The Ministry of Public Health, with support from UNICEF and led by Vice President María José Pinto, announced on March 26 the launch of the new Comprehensive Health Booklet (LIS) for mothers and children. The tool is designed to monitor the health of mothers during pregnancy and postpartum, as well as children across Ecuador.
The initiative aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes by ensuring families have access to key information about prenatal care, vaccinations, nutrition, development milestones, and warning signs during pregnancy, postpartum periods, and early childhood. The LIS is now divided into two booklets—one for mothers and one for children—and includes new features such as postpartum care guidance, maternal mental health support, and encourages active involvement from parents and caregivers in daily childcare decisions.
Vice President Pinto participated virtually in the launch event held in Riobamba. She said: “Today we take a step that transforms lives and protects what is most valuable—our families. Today we choose to care for and accompany the well-being of mothers, boys, and girls. Because investing in early childhood is sowing the future. And caring for maternal health means building a fairer and more equitable country.”
According to officials at the event—including Ángela de Lourdes Tipán from the Vice Presidency; Lucy Baldeón from the Ministry of Public Health; David Simón representing UNICEF; as well as hundreds of parents—the updated LIS will help ensure more consistent attendance at prenatal checkups, postnatal visits, healthy child appointments, reduce risks related to maternal morbidity or mortality rates, improve neonatal care practices,
and prevent chronic child malnutrition.
Since its creation in 2016 as a basic maternity card tracking growth data,
the LIS has evolved: it added developmental milestones in 2019,
unified records including HIV screening in 2022,
and was comprehensively updated again this year with a life-course approach.
Lucy Baldeón said: “Today we recognize how far we’ve come—a decision made with each family’s reality in mind. Let’s keep working together because when we take care of a mother,
we take care of a family—and when we take care of childhood,
we take care of Ecuador.” David Simón added: “Caring for early childhood isn’t just up to families—it’s a shared responsibility; it’s a national decision.”
Beneficiaries like Jennifer Urgiles Núñez called the booklet her best ally: “This tool doesn’t let me miss any checkup,
and later I’ll be able to track my baby’s growth.” Darwin Yaucen described it as “a roadmap for our responsibility as parents—keeping our children healthy and strong.” With this rollout,Ecuador seeks closer support for mothers,and young children from birth onward.
