Public Health in Holguín: Responsibility and Commitment
- Written by Lourdes Pichs Rodríguez
- Published in Opinion
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The well-being of the Holguín people has been a priority for the workers of the health system of this province during 2024, despite the difficult scenario confronted by the country and, specifically, this territory, where Public Health has faced the deficit of essential resources, medicines, equipment and others.
There have been many obstacles faced in this sector, which with the duty to minimize deficiencies has grown in responsibility and commitment, as recognized by Dr. Julio Yamel Verdecia Reyes, general director of Public Health in the eastern territory.
Verdecia Reyes recognized the Maternal and Child Care Program (Pami), as there are indicators below the national average.
Regarding this particular, the head of Pami in the province, Dr. C Alberto R. Piriz Assa, explained that according to preliminary figures, infant mortality is expected to close with a rate of 5.0 per thousand live births, the third lowest in the country.
In relation to births, he said that despite a significant decrease of more than 1,900, the province will end with about 6,950; the general survival rate in neonatal services remains at 98.8 percent and there is a notable reduction in the rate of low birth weight, although this indicator will continue to be the focus of efforts in the coming year.
Other notable results in Holguín are in the Assisted Reproduction Services. Until the beginning of December, 365 clinical pregnancies were achieved in low complexity, while in the High Complexity Center, whose headquarter is located in the Vladimir Ilich Lenin Provincial General University Hospital, there were about 33, with an effectiveness rate of 41.3 percent.
Dr. Eloy Verdecia Silva noted that this center is the best equipped in Cuba after the modernization of the technique thanks to the support of the Articulated Platform for the Integral Territorial Development (Padit), which “is not the most advanced in the world, although it is the best in Cuba.”
Regarding the Family Doctor and Nurse Program, Dr. Verdecia Reyes added that it is currently in the process of improvement and that one of the main challenges for next year is to continue the repair and improvement of the clinics.
Amid shortages, mainly affecting surgical activity, of a plan of 49,122 surgeries, 36,047 were performed by the end of November, for 73.4 percent, and hospital medical consultations accumulated 651,977 in the first 11 months of 2024, which represents an increase of 49,122 consultations, compared to the same period in 2023.
A total of 36 works for repair and maintenance have been completed as part of the investment plan for the sector, including two Nursing Homes, a polyclinic and seven works in four hospitals of the province, such as the “Gustavo Aldereguía Lima”hospital in Gibara.
The Director General of Public Health also praised international collaboration, through which 2,244 Holguín workers remain in 40 countries. “They deserve our recognition, along with the embrace of those who have received, in other latitudes, the care of Cuban medicine.”
He pointed out that Public Health in Holguín is prestigious for its University of Medical Sciences, with a history of more than 50 years of experience, worthy of the status of Certified Institution by the National Accreditation Board (JAN) of the Ministry of Higher Education.
“During the year, the Stomatology degree was evaluated by the JAN with excellent results, and the specialties of Cardiology, Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Master's Degree in Mental Health were also subjected to external evaluation,” he explained.
“The work of health workers is full of professionalism and altruism, and they have not stopped in their efforts to save lives and restore hope to the people. It is inevitable to recognize the dedication with which they work, day after day, in the most diverse settings,” said Verdecia Reyes.
