Located about seven hours west of the capital city Quito, FIMRC looks to help construct a community center and remodel a medical facility with partner organization Ayuda Directa USA (ADUSA). Ecuador’s childhood mortality rate is eight times higher than the United States and the maternal mortality rate is nearly ten times higher than in the United States. FIMRC plans to implement programming aimed at improving these rates in the Monte Nuevo community.

Monte Nuevo has a small population of 500 people, of which 150 are children under the age of 18. Its residents feel very strongly about educating their children; according to ADUSA, the residents pooled money in order to pay teachers who give classes in the local school. Five professors teach students from kindergarten to high school in a two room school house.

Monte Nuevo is approximately four hours away from the nearest medical center which makes acute care a difficult task. Seeing a doctor involves a long and expensive journey by bus; as a result, most people do not make the journey unless it is life-threatening. 

FIMRC’s goal is to equip the existing medical clinic to treat common injuries and diseases, and to provide a clean and safe place for mothers to deliver their children.  FIMRC in partnership with ADUSA also plans to hire a doctor to travel to Monte Nuevo monthly to treat members of the community, perform childhood immunizations, and prescribe and dispense medications.  Children seen in the clinic will undergo a complete baseline health assessment, which will allow FIMRC to track their development, monitor for possible malnutrition, and record their vaccine progress.

In the coming months, FIMRC and ADUSA will be sending volunteers to Monte Nuevo to assist with the tasks ahead. FIMRC plans on conducting a baseline assessment of the community and its needs.  The information that is compiled will be used to determine the most pressing medical needs of the community and help direct the medical treatment that FIMRC will provide.  It will also be, to the best of our knowledge, the first needs assessment conducted in this region.

We look forward to a long lasting partnership with ADUSA and the community of Monte Nuevo!

For further information, please contact info@fimrc.org or call 1-888-211-8575.