Tungurahua and Chimborazo provinces in Ecuador have been recognized as Angels Regions for meeting international standards in prehospital care for stroke management. This recognition was received by María José Pinto, Vice President of the Republic and top official at the Ministry of Public Health (MSP). Ecuador is now the second country in Latin America to receive this award.
Last year, the Angels initiative awarded Diamond Category status to Coordinations Zones 2 and 9 for their work in stroke care, further strengthening excellence models within the health system.
The recent award was presented by María José Pinto to Tungurahua Governor Daniela Llerena and Chimborazo Governor María José Del Pozo.
“This achievement does not happen by chance. It is the result of a serious, coordinated, and sustained strategy based on four fundamental pillars. (…) From the National Government, under the leadership of President Daniel Noboa Azin, we maintain a firm commitment: to continue strengthening prevention and timely response to protect the well-being of all Ecuadorian families,” said Pinto during her speech.
The Angels Regions strategy aims to make territories safer against strokes through four main actions: ongoing community education; internationally recognized mobile health services with at least gold category; coverage of 80% of health centers and hospitals in the National Health System for stroke care; and accreditation as “Stroke Ready” centers.
Edwin Bucheli, Medical Manager of Angels in Ecuador, stated that positive results have come from collaboration between MSP, Angels, and civil society. The focus has been on improving patient care for strokes by enhancing mobile health staff’s response capabilities.
With support from the Ministry of Education, the Héroes – Fast program was implemented in primary schools to teach children early recognition of stroke signs and symptoms. Nationally, 51 schools participated with over 4,700 students and 320 teachers trained.
Olga Palomo, a teacher at Juan Benigno Vela Educational Unit, expressed gratitude for Héroes – Fast: “Today our young people become messengers of life—a mission they took on responsibly to recognize signs of a stroke and act quickly to save lives.”
In addition, training was provided nationwide to 2,377 healthcare professionals in hospital care services. Hospitals such as General Docente de Ambato (Tungurahua), Provincial General Docente de Riobamba (MSP), and General de Riobamba (IESS) were also recognized for optimized hospital care tasks.
Zully Romero, an emergency physician at Provincial General Docente Riobamba Hospital, highlighted MSP’s support alongside Angels in providing training that can be applied directly with patients facing what is currently Ecuador’s third leading cause of death.
This international recognition encourages MSP and mobile health personnel to maintain—and improve—the quality standards set out for stroke patient care.
