#396 Ecuador: Infectious Disease Diagnostics

Putumayo, a district located in the Ecuadorian Amazon rainforest bordering Colombia and Peru, is in of the most remote, poorest and unstable areas of Ecuador.  Due to lack of good healthcare facilities, and the fact that over seventy percent of the inhabitants live below the poverty threshold, there are many health issues.  With the presence of a hospital where diagnostics can be done and treatment can be given, this can change.  Associated organization Quina Care, a non-profit organization, is building and will be running a hospital in Puerto el Carmen, capital of Putumayo.  Among the main health issues in this tropical environment are infectious diseases, where the children are the most affected.  With rapid diagnostics most of these infectious diseases can be adequately treated, which will have a huge positive impact on the health situation of many people in Putumayo.