IN an unprecedented effort on the part of Cuba’s
public health services, medical personnel and those
from other sectors are undertaking daily
epidemiological screening throughout the country of
all pregnant women and new mothers to check for
respiratory symptoms.
This important screening is within the context of
the AH1N1 pandemic and its particular "aggressiveness"
in the case of pregnant women, a group at high risk
of developing complications related to this virus.
Dr. Doris Sierra Pérez, national director of
primary care at the Ministry of Public Health,
informed Granma daily that this action began
last September, given the capacity of the virus to
produce severe pulmonary lesions within a few hours,
thus requiring patients’ immediate hospitalization
in intensive care units.
From then on, on a daily basis, local health care
personnel have been visiting pregnant women and
those with newborn babies in their homes to confirm
their state of health and, in the case of any flu
symptoms, to instruct hospital admission and
immediate treatment.
According to estimates given to Granma, of
the 65,456 currently pregnant women in the country,
and the 16,507 with newborn babies (a total of
81,963), an average of 96% are visited on a daily
basis. Of these, 12,065 have been admitted to
hospital.
Dr. Sierra highlighted the selfless dedication of
Cuban health workers, including medical students
incorporated into the screening program, who are
making a decisive contribution to the saving of more
than a few lives.
She also noted the support received from
political and mass organizations and other sectors
of society, in conjunction with the political will
of the revolutionary government, which views the
health of the population a prime human right.
