A working meeting took place yesterday morning at the Magistral Palace between the Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, Riccardo Paternò di Montecupo, and the First Lady of the Republic of Ecuador, Lavinia Valbonesi de Noboa.

Daniel Noboa Azin, the youngest president in Ecuadorian history, won the presidential election in October last year with a government programme that promoted concrete answers to problems of security, public order and drug trafficking. These issues were noted during the talks that focused on present and future social and healthcare programmes.

During the meeting, the Grand Chancellor recalled the long and fruitful diplomatic relationship between the Order of Malta and Ecuador. Since 1953, when relations were established, several humanitarian projects have been carried out in Ecuador on the joint initiative of the National Association and the Embassy, in coordination with the local community.

Particular attention was paid to various initiatives for those living in the most remote areas of the country. Communities in the Amazon regions also have poor access to health care, both for cultural reasons and for physical distance from medical facilities. Other possible areas of intervention mentioned during the talks included education, support for women and youth drug addiction.

During the meeting, the Grand Chancellor also took the opportunity to present OMDP (Order of Malta – Donors for Projects) supporting the Order’s medium-term humanitarian and social projects worldwide.