Ecuador

Welcome
Thank you for your interest in serving the less privileged in Ecuador. 

In 2001, MMI opened a permanent center in Milagro: Centro Cristiano de Servicios Medicos-Milagro. A residency program in ophthalmology is training new doctors to continue caring for the poor.

Geography
Ecuador is located in Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru. It is one of the smallest countries in South America. It is slightly smaller than Nevada. The Galapagos Islands, which lie 600 miles off the Pacific coast, belong to Ecuador. Its terrain consists of coastal plains, inter-Andean central highlands, and flat to rolling eastern jungle.
The mainland has three regions: 
1) Andes Highlands- covers ¼ of the country and includes some active volcanoes. Snow covers the Andes above 16,000 ft. 
2) Coastal Lowlands- (¼ of the country) is swampy in the north and desert-like in the south with tropical rainforest in between. 
3) Eastern Lowlands- covers 1/2 of the country) and is sparsely populated. It has thick tropical rainforests.

History
The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors.

Weather
Ecuador varies in temperature.  It can be sunny during the day, but very cool in the evenings. Its climate is tropical along the coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations and tropical in the Amazonian jungle lowlands.    Rainfall averages 55 inches per year.   Plan to wear layers and pack your jacket and warm sweatshirt.  Be prepared for rain especially December through May.

Goverment
Republic with its capital city being Quito.

Economy
Currency: US Dollar (formerly the Ecuadorian Sucre)
Industries: petroleum, food processing, textiles, metal work, paper products, wood products, chemicals, plastics, fishing, and lumber.
Agriculture: bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, and shrimp.

Project Sites
Ibarra: City located on the highlands, beautiful landscape and the view of Imbabura volcano and Yahuarcocha lagoon, at Ibarra there are a lot and indian (Otavalos and Natabuelas) and poor people. 10 minutes from Ibarra the biggest handicraft market is located in a touristical city called Otavalo. The weather is no too hot and not too cold. Our hotel is very comfortable, swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath. Our medical director will be Charlie Hendricks MD.

 Misahually: Beautiful place, full of waterfalls and jungle. The weather is hot-hummed (not too hot). Our hostel is very comfortable. The population is 3000 people. 1200 high feet. We have poor, Indian people (Huaorani). We have two beautiful rivers Napo and Misahually. There are monkeys and pretty birds as well as lots of plants. Our medical director will be Tim Calson DDS.

Baños: Forest’s gate beautiful place, lots of waterfalls, cable cars and one of the most visited city by the tourists for having everything in just one place, you can do horse ridding, rafting, hiking, bird watching, bungee jumping and still is a poor city, most of them are farmers, one of the most beautiful volcanoes in Ecuador called Tungurahua is just 19 kilometres away! Our hostel is very comfortable.  We have poor people near to Baños, some of them are Indians. Our medical director will be Bryan Frank MD.

Latacunga: City located around Cotopaxi volcano, beautiful three Mountain view and the volcano too. 70 % of population is Indian (Sunbahuas and Tiguas ). Our hostel is very comfortable. The weather is dry and cold. Our hostel is very comfortable Fred Simon MD.

Riobamba: The high is 2300 m. City located around Chimborazo volcano, beautiful and old city on the highlands people is 80% Indian (Coltas and Cachuas) and they don’t have good medical care. We have Colta lagoon. Our hotel is very comfortable.

Quito: Ecuador’s capital high is 8400 feet. City located on the highlands, near Rucco Pichincha and Guagua Pichincha volcanoes. We have lots of poor people at the outside of the city, they came from other provinces. Very touristical city. Situated at Middle of the World. The teleferico (cable car) from that point you can see most of Quito’s landscape. Our hostel is very comfortable.

People

Population: around 12.9 million.
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and Spanish) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, and black 3%
Literacy: 90.1%

Religion

95% Roman Catholic

Language

Spanish and Amerindian languages