THE triumph of the Cuban Revolution represented the most momentous transformation in the health of the population here. The integrated national public health system has since been subject to a constant process of change, in accordance with the needs of each historic period, as expressed by Dr. Magalys Chaviano Moreno, Provincial Health director for Matanzas, in an interview with Granma International.
Regarding health priorities today, she noted, “We work to continue improving the health of the population; increase the quality and satisfaction with services; and make the system efficient and sustainable. One of our challenges is to cut transmission rates of dengue fever and reduce infestation rates of Aedes genus mosquitoes.
“We have defined three main municipalities at high risk of transmission of diseases generated by mosquitoes, they are the capital municipal of Matanzas, Cárdenas and Jagüey Grande, despite the fact that we have worked intensely across 100% of the province.
“Our raison d'être is to improve the quality of life of the population with important programs such as the infant-maternal, comprehensive care for older adults, oncology, and communicable and non-communicable chronic diseases programs, among others.
“To do so we are continuing the investment process to modernize our facilities with the introduction of technology and specialized equipment.
“We are strengthening international medical care in Matanzas, based on the capacity of the region, which has a large resort area.”
What care is provided to international visitors staying at Varadero beach resorts?
In Varadero there is a system of eighteen medical clinics within the hotels. In addition, on an outpatient basis, a group of doctors provides services at the request of the hotel chains. Any tourist who requires medical care has access to this service.
We have an international clinic for personalized service and we have a dozen beds in the Faustino Pérez Provincial Hospital and the Eliseo Noel Caamaño Pediatric Hospital, both with the conditions created to welcome foreign vacationers.
We intend to design programs for tourists who wish to undergo some kind of therapy when in Cuba, exploiting all the potential of the country's health system.
Does the province have the potential to provide courses for specialists from abroad interested in learning about the Cuban experience?
Actually we already have training plans, mainly in the specialty of pediatric neurology and early years care. Such assistance has been consolidated by the results of the Rosa Luxemburg Neurodevelopment Rehabilitation Center, in Cárdenas.
There, children are evaluated by multidisciplinary teams of pediatricians, obstetricians, physiotherapists and psychologists, who propose therapies for children with disabilities. Family members and caregivers are also trained in how to care for these patients.
Today we can demonstrate the results in the learning of children suffering from neurological diseases or serious conditions, who are fully integrated into society.
How many health institutions does the province have?
Across the territory, nine hospitals, 28 polyclinics and 644 family doctor clinics provide services, as well as nine rest homes, two homes for the physically and mentally disabled, and six dental clinics. These institutions are staffed by 27,000 health professionals across all branches.
Our human resources are trained at the province’s University of Medical Sciences, which each year trains some 700 young people in medicine, without including those trained in stomatology, or pursuing a degree in nursing and health technology.
This university also trains young people from a score of countries, who are also inserted in our health facilities.
To this we must add that more than 3,000 of our professionals have provided collaboration outside the country, integrating the various forms of Cuban medical cooperation.
How are different health programs put into practice?
Our first step is the family doctor, who supports the monitoring of risks such as low birth weight, perinatal mortality, neonatal care, care for pregnant women in a critical condition. We seek to assist families to reduce health problems arising in the territory.
I would mention comprehensive care for elderly patients, those with chronic diseases, sexually transmitted infections, vaccinations, etc.
Our first task is the constant screening process, integrating all persons and authorities involved in residential areas. Next, prevention and awareness are effective to eliminate some of the population's poor habits.
Around the world, many ask how Cuba has been able to conduct epidemiological surveillance and prevent the spread of diseases such as Chikungunya and Zika, with high rates of infection across the continent.
The monitoring system in operation in our country could serve as an example for everyone. The strategies designed allow for active research, thanks to a well articulated network, centered on the work of the family doctor and nurse.
At this primary level, efforts are also focused on controlling outbreaks, fumigating against mosquitoes, promoting hygiene measures inside and outside the home, among other important issues in this epidemiological battle. We solve this issue through the organization of Cuban society.
We have experiences to share in vector control and we can demonstrate how to think about the environment in which we liv,e in order to make use of it without damaging it. As well as preventing epidemics and reducing sources of transmission.
The battles waged by Cubans in the health sector can be showcased and raise awareness across the planet on quality of life and healthy living.
Cuba is preparing to face an aging population in the present and the future.
What care is provided in the province for older adults?
We have implemented a cross-sectoral quality of life program in the territory, in which municipal and provincial directorates of culture, sports, education and local governments participate, including industries with the potential to provide goods and services to residents across all spheres.
We have two health resorts mainly to treat older adults, working on rehabilitation and the improvement of symptoms caused by certain conditions. There, medicinal waters are exploited, and mud therapies, creams and other natural products are applied.
We are recovering health resorts, such as that of San Miguel de los Baños, and those that care for the Cuban population and international patients. The payments made by the latter will be a source of hard currency for our health care system and the country.
We work seriously in preventing dementia and Alzheimer's, we insist on training for caregivers of the elderly, and we are strengthening health services to accommodate older adults.
The care program for older adults is structured at the territorial government level with a cross-sectoral approach, as we must anticipate the elimination of architectural barriers, enhance delivery services in pharmacies and other retail centers, increase facilities for the collective use of the elderly, and provide better cultural and sporting projects for this sector of the population.
This program joins those focused on alcoholism, drugs and communicable and non-communicable chronic diseases. We consider the aging phenomenon from birth.
The main challenges?
First, to achieve coordination between the different levels of public health care, authorities and residents in a given community.
Our main purpose is to provide comprehensive care to the population, based on the sector’s basic principles of universal, free, accessible, and regionalized care, available to all citizens both in rural areas and in the city, regardless of their political or religious affiliation, sex, race - strengthening community and cross-sectoral participation and with an internationalist concept.
We must continue raising the levels of competence and performance of sector professionals, increase teaching staff with training of those with masters, PhDs, tenured professors. Pay more attention to scientific results.
