Ecuador deploys medical brigades to combat El Niño flooding effects

The Ministry of Public Health in Ecuador deployed 164 medical teams and three mobile units to provide healthcare to people affected by heavy rains caused by El Niño.

These teams operate on a 24-hour rotating shift basis across the provinces of Guayas, Galápagos, El Oro, Manabí, and Los Ríos. The medical teams provide a range of services including general medicine, gyneco-obstetrics, pharmacy services, vaccinations, and psychological care.

They also monitor epidemiological risks, check water safety for human consumption, and manage sanitation in the flooded areas. The ministry continues to conduct vaccination campaigns against influenza and other routine diseases to protect vulnerable groups during the emergency. Public health officials have recorded 2,162 medical consultations across the country since the start of the rains. Of those cases, 995 people received treatment in temporary shelters.

In the Galápagos archipelago, the island of Santa Cruz accounted for 785 of these medical attendances. Minister of Public Health Juan Carlos Aveiga visited the Santa Cruz island to coordinate with the local Emergency Operations Committee. During the meeting, officials addressed the supply of medical products and the availability of safe drinking water. The ministry says it uses data on the El Niño phenomenon to anticipate risks and organize the healthcare response for families in the archipelago.