Volunteer's Experience: What Ecuador Taught Me About Community Health

Sarah is a dedicated nursing professional currently pursuing her BSN, building on over five years of experience as a certified nursing assistant. Her journey has taken her through diverse healthcare environments—from home health to nursing homes and adult day care centers—where she has provided compassionate, hands-on care. Most recently, she joined Children's Hospital Colorado as a clinical assistant, continuing her commitment to patient-centered healthcare.

By: Sarah Kim

“The town of Anconcito is small and what they lack in resources, they make up for in strength, resilience, and community support. Malnutrition associated with anemia, diabetes, and teen pregnancy were some of the main concerns in the community. Because of this, I saw many mothers and children. Before my trip, I had been told I might encounter uninvolved parents or a general lack of interest in healthcare. But what I witnessed was the opposite; hundreds of mothers waiting over three hours just for their child to get a blood sugar check, and patients traveling long distances simply to have their vital signs taken. For many in Anconcito, accessing healthcare is a daily challenge due to factors like limited resources, distance, and poverty.

Unlike the United States, healthcare in Ecuador is free. However, rural communities like Anconcito face significant barriers to quality care, including a shortage of health professionals, geographic isolation, and other social determinants of health.

I continue to share my experience with my community and fellow nurses in hopes of encouraging others to volunteer with FIMRC. Despite limited resources, they continue to make a huge impact in the community while inspiring those who choose to take part in their mission because they lead with compassion, integrity, and ingenuity. I volunteered alongside an exceptional team of providers, nutritionists, and other health care team members who shared their expertise with others and went above and beyond for their community, ensuring that every patient is seen and treated with the best care. 

Although there was a language barrier, it did not hinder us from providing care for our patients and taught me how to communicate beyond words.

I am especially grateful to the FIMRC team, who generously shared their knowledge and skills. They provided an unforgettable glimpse into their culture and the unique challenges of their healthcare system. 

I had the opportunity to visit Ecuador’s public hospitals which are classified into four levels based on the type of care they offer with each level specializing in more complex treatments. I also had the chance to visit schools and lead interactive health education workshops. I got to meet with children and students who all shared the same eagerness and excitement to learn more about their health. Each day was filled with full participation in both clinical and health promotion activities.

This experience taught me the importance of community-based care which aims to prevent and reduce the risk for diseases and disabilities, promote optimal health outcomes, and enhance social support. FIMRC follows and adapts to the needs of the community. Other than medical needs, FIMRC’s programs in Ecuador also address food insecurity and chronic disease management. Since malnutrition was a main concern in Ecuador, many families were placed in a nutrition program developed by FIMRC to help families receive proper nutrition and manage chronic conditions associated with malnutrition. I also helped bag foods to later be delivered to families in need, supporting those facing food insecurity in the community.

I hope to invest more in community-based care back here in the states like what FIMRC provides because it focuses on the strengths of the community to address health needs and other social determinants of health, leading to a more dynamic and cost efficient approach to well-being. 

FIMRC’s mission is to meet the needs of the communities they serve, and they do so by investing time, care, and effort into understanding local strengths and challenges. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to volunteer with FIMRC, caring for the community while inspiring others like myself to approach healthcare with the same proactive and compassionate effort.”