In August 2016 MEDLIFE Ecuador completed two bathroom projects as part of ongoing earthquake relief efforts in Jama, Ecuador, an area that very affected by the earthquake, but that did not receive as much aid or attention as other areas like Pedernales. MEDLIFE has begun working together with the local government on these construction projects, the government is constructing the houses and MEDLIFE is building the bathrooms. Bathrooms are an extremely important of the infrastructure that needs to be rebuilt following the earthquake. 

In 2011, The World Health Organization (WHO) declared diarrheal diseases to be the second leading cause of death in low-income countries. The WHO and UNICEF estimate that functional, clean bathrooms can reduce cases of diarrhea by more than 33%. Following the earthquake, maintaining proper hygeine is critical to maintaining healthy populations and water supplies. 

Here are some photos from the inaugeration of the project:

Beneficiaries, MEDLIFE staff, and local government members in front of one of the new houses.

Inside one of the new bathrooms constructed by MEDLIFE.

One of the new houses.

The tape cutting ceremony.

The inaugeration was covered by local news.

MEDLIFE Ecuador staff with beneficieries in front of their new home.