Our Programs

SAHLUD was founded in 2007 at University of California, Santa Barbara by a group of compassionate and adventurous pre-med students that felt they could make a lasting impact. SAHLUD operates by recruiting university students and physicians to implement health and education clinics in five remote communities in Ecuador. Our goal is to make lasting positive changes in people's lives by finding tailored solutions to the myriad of health disparities present in communities. Our team works closely with Ecuadorian physicians and community leaders to address the specific needs of each community. SAHLUD’s team seeks highly-motivated students from all disciplines that want to make a difference and wish to gain experience in service and rural health care.

Access to healthcare

All of the communities that SAHLUD serves have scarce or non-existent access to healthcare. We work closely with US-based student ambassadors and Ecuadorian municipalities to recruit physicians, dentists, and educators to address these disparities.

Potable water

Many of the communities we serve use contaminated sources of drinking water. SAHLUD' seeks to provide access to clean water by providing yearly filtration systems to each family within our five communities.

education

Many of the chronic health issues that these communities face can be significantly reduced or alleviated by proper education. SAHLUD works with local teachers to implement health education programs into school curriculums as well create programming for adults and teens.

Nutrition

Nutrition is inextricably linked to health. SAHLUD’s education programs focus on educating parents and children on healthy eating habits, and guiding families on where to find fresh, nutritious foods.