Innovative solutions to demographic dynamics
- Written by John Alex Fernández Leyva
- Published in Holguin
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In 2023, the Cuban population continued to trend towards aging and natural decline. During the period, around 90,300 births were recorded, the lowest figure in the last six decades.
These demographic indicators pose numerous challenges for territorial governments, organizations, academic institutions and social actors in general.
That is why the need to seek alternative solutions to guarantee that both the disabled and the elderly are prioritized by each of the organizations involved.
In Holguín: effective variants
Care for people in vulnerable situations is part of a joint government program with the different companies linked to the industry, who develop variants based on the different factors that make up the demographic dynamics of the Holguín territory.
Migdalia Moreno Gómez, coordinator of services in the Provincial Government, explained that it is part of the dynamic to support the elderly, taking a medicine to their People’s Council or bringing the services to children who require it in the 22 children's homes of the province, allowing working women to practice their trade without difficulty. Added to this is the inauguration of two children day care centers last year.
"It also has to do with the actions taken by the Provincial Labor Directorate together with other factors to give employment to adults with beneficial treatment and other aspects that are considered in the social prevention group to improve the life of the working-age population."
The "Héroes del 26 de julio" factory carries out actions to repair 72 wheelchairs belonging to the Ramón López Peña nursing home in the municipality of Cueto. The entity is linked to a productive chain for the assembly of transfer chairs to contribute to the mobility of older adults with disabilities. 
Frank Raúl Arechavaleta Pérez, deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power and deputy director of the "Héroes del 26 de julio" Factory, commented that for some years now, the company has been linked to the health sector of the territory based on a call from the Party and the Government since the COVID-19 stage, where the factory contributed to the repair of stretchers, beds and different export utensils that were not able to purchase due to the current economic situation.
We are seeing achievements with the prototype of chairs designed by our entity and the KTP factory of sugarcane harvesters that is still in process, he said.
Health and Industry hand in hand
The Orthopedic Implements factory, belonging to the Provincial Electromedicine Budget Unit, is committed to renting fowler beds at reasonable prices to take them to the patients' homes; they also recover stretchers from health centers in the province.
Alexander Moré García, head of the orthopedic department, explained that “the rental prices range from 62 pesos per year. At the moment we do not have a waiting list for beds, in the case of wheelchairs, there is little availability. We also dedicate ourselves to recovering part of clinical furniture such as bedside tables and upholstery of stretchers for public health institutions. "
In the Rene Ávila carpentry shop, belonging to the Provincial Company of Local Industries Holguín, 50 sanitary chairs are made, of which 25 are in the process of being finished, destined for the homes of the elderly. In addition, the Cometal company made 80 canes for all the homes for the elderly in the province.
Mireidis Cruz Sarmiento, a specialist at the Pedro Vázquez nursing home, said that they have equipment in the institution for the treatment of older adults, such as infrared lamps, magnetotherapy equipment and electric equipment for the cure and treatment of ulcers. “We also perform mechanotherapy with bicycles and therapeutic stairs that have contributed to the better quality of life of patients.
Although it is true that the financial and material resource limitations faced by the country have had a negative impact on the implementation of the Policy for Attention to Demographic Dynamics, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cuba, Manuel Marrero Cruz, indicated that an exhaustive analysis should be made of the causes of non-compliance in programs and indicators that have the greatest impact on the population.
It continues to be necessary to take a deep and comprehensive look at issues associated with the decrease in the global fertility rate and the care of the elderly, the only population group that has grown in recent years.
