The International Congress on Maternal and Child Health with Intercultural Relevance was held at the Universidad Técnica del Norte in Ibarra. The event was inaugurated by the Vice Presidency of Ecuador, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), and the university. The congress aims to transform and strengthen maternal and child health care in Ecuador.
Edwin Morocho, National Director of Intercultural Health and Equity, stated that the MSP ensures nationwide health care with equity, quality, intercultural relevance, and social participation within a more humanized National Health System.
“In Ecuador there are three ways to practice health: ancestral medicine, conventional medicine, and complementary alternatives. (…) That is why this first congress is historic; we are building a new paradigm of health that respects identity, strengthens knowledge, and puts women, families, and communities at the center of health action,” said Morocho.
María Fernanda Terán, Zonal Coordinator 1 – Health, added: “Intercultural relevance cannot be seen as an optional complement to medical practice but as a central component to ensure dignified, effective care that is close to each community’s reality. It means recognizing that alongside scientific evidence there is community knowledge which has also shown its value in promoting well-being; health is built better when these types of knowledge engage equally.”
Stefanía Flores from Hospital San Luis de Otavalo acknowledged the work being done by MSP with an intercultural approach. She noted that these strategies bring services closer to people at all stages of care with warmth and dignity.
The National Directorate of Intercultural Health and Equity at MSP supports training, institutional recognition, and coordination among traditional ancestral midwives, community agents, and health professionals. Efforts are made to strengthen local knowledge systems, recognize diversity, and promote humanized care for mothers and children through intercultural dialogue.
Miguel Naranjo Toro, rector of Universidad Técnica del Norte, welcomed participants and thanked MSP for working together to enhance capabilities from classrooms to service operations.
Joint efforts between academia and international organizations continue in research initiatives aimed at providing scientific evidence for public policies supporting comprehensive maternal-child healthcare that is safe and culturally appropriate.
