Medical attention for children and pregnant women a priority in Cuba

• According to pediatrician Francisco Valdés, the 5.8 infant mortality rate attained by Cuba in 2004, the lowest in Latin America, is primarily due to mass and free vaccination campaign dating back to the triumph of the Revolution in 1959.

BY ANNE-MARIE GARCIA—Special for Granma International—

DARAIBIS Rueda experienced moments of anxiety and fear when, at eight months pregnant, she gave birth to her daughter Amelia, who weighed in at 930 grams.

Two months later, the young mother was able to hold her 1.8 kilogram baby in her arms, “I feel very emotional because I had waited for so long,” Rueda told Granma International with a big smile. “I’m happy; but I was really scared when I saw such a tiny little thing when she was born.”

Amelia was in an incubator for 58 days; mother and daughter remained in the González Coro hospital in the capital, until the baby weighed 2.5 kilograms; and now they are happily back home.

Cuba had a vaccination program covering half a million children in March. According to pediatrician Francisco Valdés, the island attained its 5.8 infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births in 2004 – the lowest in Latin America – primarily due to mass and free vaccination campaigns dating back to the triumph of the Revolution in 1959.

The Cuban government gives special attention to the island’s infant mortality rate. On the UNICEF list for the American continent, Cuba is located below Canada, with 5, but ahead of the United States, with 7; Costa Rica, 8; Argentina, 17; and Brazil, 33.

The official from the national maternal-infant bureau pointed out that, since 1995, 95% of Cuban children aged over two years have been vaccinated against the following illnesses: diphtheria, typhoid fever, influenza, hepatitis B, meningitis, mumps, poliomyelitis, German measles, measles, tetanus, whooping cough and tuberculosis.

Valdés added that poliomyelitis was eliminated on the island in 1962, neonatal tetanus in 1972, measles in 1993, whooping cough in 1994, German measles and mumps in 1995, and meningitis and tuberculosis in 1997.

In 1970 the island began combating diarrhea-related illnesses, the first cause of infant mortality together with acute respiratory affections. In parallel with these efforts, educational campaigns were carried out advising people to boil water, etc.

In Cuba, where health services are free, neonatology as a specialty was created in 1965 and integral care for children and pregnant women was established in 1967.

PRENATAL AND POST-NATAL MEDICAL CARE

At the González Coro hospital, currently undergoing repair, the neonatology room opened in 1971, and has 25 beds offering 24-hour medical attention, Doctor María del Carmen Roca, head of service, told us. She added that last year, this institution recorded an infant mortality rate of 2.7 per 1,000 live births.

Roca explained that, in her service, they apply the “kangaroo method,” where babies are given directly to their mothers, and begin breastfeeding within 30 minutes of being born. “These methods bring great emotional and immunological advantages,” stressed the specialist.

The doctor explained that breastfeeding is encouraged due to the importance of mother-child ties, nutrition, care and hygiene, since there is no manipulation.

Blanca Manzano, doctor in obstetrics and gynecology, pointed out that in 1959 midwives performed 80% of deliveries; by 1970 91.5% of them were performed at hospitals and 99.9% in 2003.

During pregnancy, women have an average of 12 medical consultations with checkup exams and ultrasound, while babies have an average of 28.7 consultations during their first year of life, Manzano stated.

Pregnant women are registered at polyclinics in each area, and thus classified according to risks. Between weeks 16 to 19 one exam is performed to detect genetic risks and an ultrasound is done after week 22.

SPECIALIZED CARE FOR HIGH RISK PREGNANCIES

Five days ago, Liubelsi Carrasco gave birth to twins; she shares a modest room with Rachel, 3.5 kilograms, and Rocío, who weighs only 2 kilograms. They will have to wait until Rocío weighs 2.5 kilograms before going home.

In addition, in the perinatal room for pregnant women at risk, 22-year-old Siris Artigas is pregnant with her first child, but she has been hospitalized since her seventh month of pregnancy because her weight was too low.

“I feel safe, the attention is good and I feel calm because I know that if something happens to me before giving birth, they will take immediately take care of me.”

There are also 266 maternity homes for high-risk pregnant women on the island. “These are not hospitals, but they offer specialized care and proper nutrition for underweight women, those living in isolated areas or with problems,” Manzano remarked.

In 1971, 256,000 babies were born on the island, while there were only 127,000 births in 2004.

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