Women’s Health
For over twenty years, SSI has been working to address health problems facing women in Central and South America. SSI uses multiple approaches:
Empowering Women in Health
Collaborate with innovative providers to deliver reproductive and mental health care to underserved indigenous women in Ecuador: Learn more about our newest program BIENSUR.
In 2023, SSI launched a new program – BIENSUR – to create access to health and mental health care for indigenous Ecuadorian women by collaborating with three innovative organizations: TARIMIAT, Fundacion Hospital de los Valles, and QuinaCare. We are working to expand this program to reach more women.
Indigenous Ecuadorian women participate in a 6-month program, “Yo decido”, focusing on mental and reproductive health.
They learn how to protect themselves from STDs.
QuinaCare doctors, Carolien and Jacob van der Ende, provide maternal and child health care in the Ecuadorian Amazon.
Community Engagement
Empower women in the community to protect the health of their families and themselves through education and behavior modification. Learn more about the USAID-funded program “Engaging Women in Zika Response”
Pregnant women, armed with bags of protective equipment and information, fight Zika in Managua’s barrios.
Capacity Building
Increase the capacity of in-country institutions to screen, diagnose and treat viral infections by training technicians, doctors and scientists. Learn more about how we are fighting to stop HPV infection.
Ms. Alejandra Castillo, an SSI trainee, trains a new group of technicians and researchers in HPV testing in Tegucigalpa.
Scientific Research
Study viruses to develop more effective tests and treatments for resource-poor environments, and to increase knowledge for vaccine development. Learn more about SSI's research on pregnant women and infants with Zika.
SSI lab technician prepares serum samples for infectious disease research in Managua.