The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) in Ecuador has distributed 3,760 counseling toolkits focused on maternal and child nutrition and care. This initiative is part of the National Strategy “Ecuador Grows Without Child Malnutrition” (ENECSDI), targeting primary healthcare facilities.
The toolkits include educational and didactic materials such as pedagogical games, informational brochures, puzzles, and graphic resources. These items are designed to support participatory counseling based on evidence, promoting healthy eating habits, breastfeeding, pregnancy care, childbirth and postpartum guidance, prevention of common childhood diseases, and the use of micronutrients.
This distribution was made possible through an investment exceeding $500,000. Funding was provided by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as part of actions led by Vice President María José Pinto under the Ecuador Free from Child Malnutrition Project.
According to the ministry, “Thanks to these materials, health personnel have practical tools to improve families’ understanding, promote behavior changes toward healthy practices and reinforce compliance with the benefits established in the prioritized package of goods and services.”
The MSP stated that this effort demonstrates its commitment to preventing and reducing chronic child malnutrition. The program aims to strengthen promotion, prevention and comprehensive support for Ecuadorian families during a child’s first thousand days of life.
