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-When did health problems begin in Ecuador?

-Did poor people always have less access to doctors?

-How did life in the countryside affect people’s health?

-Did the government help or ignore health issues?

-Were Indigenous people treated unfairly?

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-Did the government make bad choices about health care?

-Did rich people get better health care than others?

-Did other countries or companies make it worse?

-Did leaders spend more money on cities than small towns?

-Was money used in the wrong way?

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-Why do people in small towns still have less health care?

-Is it still hard for poor people to pay for medicine?

-Are some hospitals better than others?

-Why are some diseases still common in poor places?

-Does living in the mountains or jungle make it harder to get care?

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-Are any groups or charities helping?

-Is the government trying to fix things?

-Are local people doing anything to help?

-What can students do to make a difference?

-How can we spread the word and help others learn?

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When did health problems begin in Ecuador?

Health care issues date back to the early 20th century

https://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2007/06/ecuador_healthlinks.html#:~:text=Some%20of%20the%20greatest%20health,pesticides%20and%20other%20agricultural%20chemicals.

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Did poor people always have less access to doctors?

Yes, poor people in Ecuador face a more reduced access to medical care.

http://www.scielo.org.co/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0120-53072014000200015#:~:text=The%20rural%20population%20of%20Ecuador%20has%20a,living%20in%20the%20rural%20areas%20of%20Ecuador.

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How did life in the countryside affect people's health?

Life in rural areas of Ecuador significantly impacted health outcomes negatively because of where they live they have a barrier to healthcare access having a high risk of preventable illnesses and a shorter life expectancy. https://storymaps.com/stories/298d6937b78141f5856144f61c745d4a

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-Were Indigenous people treated unfairly?

Yes, indigenous peoples in Ecuador were treated unfairly economic and political discrimination, lack of access to essential services like hospitals and schools.

https://djhr.revistas.deusto.es/article/view/1702/2127#:~:text=The%20modern%20history%20of%20Latin,non%2DWestern%20and%20indigenous%20narratives.

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Did the government make bad choices about health care?

Yes, Ecuador did do some questionable healthcare choices like Insufficient Funding and Out-of-Pocket Spending,Lack of Access and Universal Health Coverage,and Weakening of Public Health Programs.

https://www.hhrjournal.org/2024/12/08/protecting-distress-migrants-right-to-health-in-ecuador-are-legal-commitments-being-fulfilled/#:~:text=However%2C%20there%20is%20evidence%20that,the%20needs%20of%20distress%20migrants and https://www.scirp.org/html/8-8202719_44628.htm

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studies have shown that access to healthcare may be affected by factors like income, education, and geographic location, with some studies saying that those with lower incomes and education levels face challenges in accessing hospitals.

https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-018-0905-y#:~:text=Health%20inequality%20reduced%20after%20the,income%2C%20family%20size%20and%20education.

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Did other countries or companies make the health care in ecuador worse?

Some foreign oil companies polluted land and water in Ecuador, which caused health problems. Rich countries pressured Ecuador to pay debt instead of investing in health care. And international drug companies sold medicine at high prices, making it hard for people to afford.

https://www.cesr.org/sites/default/files/Rights_Violation_in_the_Ecuadorian_Amazon_The_Human_Consequences_of_Oil_Development_1_1.pdf

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Did leaders spend more money on cities than small towns? in ecuador?

Yes, leaders in Ecuador have often spent more money on cities than on small towns. Big cities like Quito and Guayaquil got better hospitals, roads, and services. Meanwhile, small towns and rural areas were left with fewer doctors and poor health care. This made life harder for people living outside the cities.

https://equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-022-01660-1

https://londonpolitica.com/latin-america-watch-blog-list/barriers-to-care-analyzing-challenges-in-indigenous-healthcare-access-in-ecuador

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-Was money used in the wrong way?

Yes, in some cases, money was used in the wrong way in Ecuador. Government funds were sometimes lost to corruption or mismanagement. Instead of going to health care or education, the money was spent on bad projects or stolen. This hurt services for regular people, especially in poor areas.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10666738

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-Did Indigenous or poor people protest for better health care?

-Have doctors or nurses asked for change?

-Did any groups or leaders speak out?

-Did people march or protest for clean water and hospitals?

-Were there big events to show the problem?

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Did Indigenous or poor people protest for better health care?

Yes, Indigenous and poor communities in Ecuador have protested for better health care. In 2022, the group CONAIE demanded a imporvment in healthcare and they said rural areas lacked doctors and medical supplies. Their protests brought attention to inequality in public services

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/06/24/ecuador-indigenous-protests-lasso/

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Have doctors or nurses asked for change?

doctors and nurses in Ecuador protested for better conditions. In 2020, health workers complained about low pay, budget cuts, and lack of protective gear.

https://www.workers.org/2020/05/48956/

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Did any groups or leaders speak out?

Indigenous perople and other social groups have protested. Leonidas Iza, leader of CONAIE a organization, asked for health and education improvements during important protests. Teachers' and students also joined the protest for better healthcare. Many groups joined to pressure the government to act.

https://esperanzaproject.com/2022/latin-america/ecuador/18-days-of-resistance-in-ecuador/

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Did people march or protest for clean water and hospitals?

Yes, people asked for clean water and better health services. In 2014, protests were made for privatization that could harm communities. During the 2022 national strike, protesters also demanded stronger health care and cleaner water.

https://peoplesdispatch.org/2022/07/05/national-strike-in-ecuador-was-also-a-strike-for-peoples-health/

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Were there big events to show the problem?

Yes, big events like national strikes showed health care problems. In both 2019 and 2022, protests shut down roads and cities for days because of this thousands of people joined to ask for health care, jobs, and lower prices. These events forced the government to negotiate with thes protests.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/6/30/ecuador-govt-indigenous-leaders-reach-deal-to-end-protests

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Why do people still have less access to healthcare?

Access to medical care is challenging. In some cases, in rural areas, people are far away from hospitals; another reason is that there might be a lack of infrastructure, such as roads or transportation areas.

https://www.umu.se/en/news/reform-provided-better-access-to-health-care-in-ecuador_11990530/

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Is it still hard for poor people to pay for medicine in Ecuador?

Yes, for many people in Ecuador, it is still hard to afford it, even though they provide free healthcare in Ecuadorian Public hospitals, although in some cases the medicine they sometimes need isn't available there, so then they have to buy it, which can be expensive.

Sources: My mom, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7673876/#:~:text=Ecuador%20provides%20universal%20healthcare%20through%20a%20mixed%20public%2Dprivate%20health%20system.&text=Overall%2C%2030%25%20of%20Ecuadorians%20have,12%25%20have%20private%20health%20insurance.&text=Healthcare%20resources%20vary%20greatly%20among,employ%20the%20Manchester%20triage%20system.

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Are some hospitals better than others in Ecuador?

Yes, in larger cities, there is often more advanced equipment, more healthcare, and a greater number of healthcare professionals. In contrast, rural areas have fewer workers and resources. In Ecuador, hospitals purchase excellent quality equipment.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ecuador-hospitalisation-information-pack/ecuador-hospitalisation-pack#:~:text=The%20level%20of%20care%20provided,appointment%20system%20for%20further%20evaluation

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Why are some diseases still common in poor places?

Access to clean water and sanitation can be limited; additionally, education on staying clean and preventing diseases is often lacking in poorer areas, making it harder for people to avoid getting sick.

https://borgenproject.org/common-diseases-in-ecuador/#:~:text=Due%20to%20environmental%20conditions%2C%20smoking,transmitted%20through%20food%20and%20water.

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Does living in the mountains or Jungle makes it harder to get care?

Yes, people often in these areas have a hard time traveling long distances to reach the nearest clinic/hospital. Also, there are fewer healthcare workers and medical facilities in these remote areas.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/06/13/1103957109/young-doctors-spend-a-year-caring-for-rural-folks-in-ecuador-heres-what-they-fin

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Are any groups or Charities helping?

Yes, they provide medical services and medicines to support communities that need them; these individuals specifically work in rural areas where healthcare is most urgently required.

https://www.care.org/our-work/where-we-work/ecuador/

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Is the government trying to fix things?

No, because they don't have the funds for health care.

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Are local people doing anything to help?

Yes, community groups collaborate to provide medical care and education to those in need.

https://www.rescue.org/article/crisis-ecuador-what-you-need-know-and-how-help#:~:text=The%20IRC%20is%20on%20the%20ground%20in%20Ecuador%2C%20working%20with,early%20childhood%20development%20of%20children.

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What can students do to make a difference?

Raising awareness and supporting organizations to help provide medical care. Also they can help by volunteering their time to support health initiatives or even fundraising activities.

https://smilesmovement.org/blog/things-to-know-about-healthcare-in-ecuador-before-volunteering-abroad#:~:text=Volunteering%20in%20Ecuador%20offers%20a,provide%20compassionate%2C%20culturally%20aware%20care.

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How can we spread the word and help others learn?

Sharing information on social media. Organizing a community event to educate others on the issues.