Vector-borne Diseases in the Ecuadorian Amazon

About 40% of Latin America’s population lives in areas where Malaria is still a risk. Considered eliminated in the 1970’s in many countries, Malaria and other vector-borne disease are re-emerging in South America. Join in the effort to eradicate these diseases by participating in the Malaria Control Services (SNEM Zone II), which operates in the Napo and Pastaza provinces in the Ecuadorian Amazon. SNEM is a public institution that is in charge of preventing and controling vector-borne diseases such as Chagas, Dengue, Malaria, Leishmaniasis and Yellow Fever. Dr. Wilfrido Torres, the Medical Director of the program, works as an epidemiologist at SNEM. Most of the student activities will take place in rural areas of both provinces.
This program begins with one week of Spanish classes and an orientation to Ecuadorian culture in the capital city of Quito, including clinical rotations at a local tertiary care hospital.
For the remaining three weeks of the program, students will be based in Puyo located in Pastaza Province. Puyo is a small city with 28,000 inhabitants in the jungle about 6 hours by bus from Quito. Although it is a rural town, Puyo does offer modern conveniences such as internet, cell phone services, banks and many other tourist attractions. In Puyo there is a large indigenous population (Kichwas, Shuar, Achuar, Shiwiar, Huaoranni and Zapara). While in Puyo, participants will participate in various activities and site visits to learn about the prevention and treatment of vector-borne diseases in Ecuador.

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