RELEASE: New Healthcare Center Opens in Alausí Following Devastating 2023 Landslide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 14, 2026

Chimborazo Province, Ecuador — Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA), in partnership with FIEA Ecuador and the community of Alausí and technical architectural support from HDR, has officially completed construction on a new community healthcare center in Alausí, Ecuador, restoring access to essential medical services after the devastating March 2023 landslide.

The landslide resulted in 65 fatalities, and over 1,000 residents affected. It also damaged homes, disrupted potable water services, and halted the community’s plans to build a new healthcare center at the base of the landslide area. For a community where 74.2% of the population lives with unmet basic needs and more than 27,000 people face limited access to opportunities and essential services, the loss of planned healthcare infrastructure created an urgent need for a safe, resilient, and accessible solution.

In September 2023, EWB-USA began working with community leaders to advance the healthcare access center project. Together with local partners, the municipality, and Ecuador’s Ministry of Health, the project team evaluated a new site, developed design plans, and helped ensure the facility responded to both clinical requirements and community priorities. After years of intentional collaboration, this work came to fruition last month during the construction completion.

“We seek to improve people's quality of life and give them a proper space in which they can access health services. We have made a design with the collaboration of architects from other countries; we have considered the cultural identity of this place, and we have done it with much affection. I think this is an opportunity to demonstrate that collaborations with purpose can achieve great milestones.” - Wilmer Santacruz, Program Engineer, FIEA Ecuador

Designed to support primary and preventive care, the new healthcare center includes space for essential services such as obstetrics, dentistry, psychology, vaccinations, and a pharmacy. The facility will serve residents of Alausí as well as Indigenous communities from the surrounding Andean mountains, where access to care is closely connected to distance, trust, and cultural practices.

Built through partnership, community leadership, and culturally responsive design, the facility reflects EWB-USA’s mission to work alongside communities to develop sustainable infrastructure that improves lives. With the opening of this new health center, EWB-USA, FIEA Ecuador, and local partners are helping expand access to quality, responsive healthcare for nearly 50,000 people in Alausí and the surrounding region.

About Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA)

Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA) is a nonprofit organization advancing sustainable, community-driven engineering solutions that meet basic human needs. Since 2002, the organization has completed more than 1,200 projects in over 700 communities, improving the lives of more than 5.2 million people. In 2025 alone, EWB-USA reached over 800,000 people, with a majority of projects focused on expanding access to safe water. EWB-USA is committed to developing globally-minded leaders who will continue shaping a more sustainable and equitable world.

Connect with EWB-USA by visiting their website: ewb-usa.org or by following them on LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

Media Contact:
Kellianne McClain
Marketing and Development Strategist, EWB-USA
kellianne.mcclain@ewb-usa.org

About FIEA Ecuador

FIEA Ecuador is an organization founded in 2017 with the goal of improving the livelihoods of vulnerable populations through equitable access to essential services and education. Its work aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, operating under three fundamental pillars: the WASH approach, the One Health approach, and the NEXUS approach.

Based on the premise that water is a catalyst for livelihoods, the organization focuses its impact on three target audiences: rural communities, health centers, and schools.