The training of specialists in Clinical Genetics - started for the first time in Las Tunas last year - constitutes an achievement of the Public Health System and Higher Medical Education, which is already confirmed by the academic progress of the eight residents of this branch.

Las Tunas, Cuba.- Dr. Nora Orive Rodríguez, head of the Provincial Department of Genetics, explained to 26 that three of the students belong to other provinces and are preparing here. "Previously, the specialty was studied only at the National Genetics Center, inserted within the School of Medicine of the Victoria de Girón Higher Institute of Basic and Pre-clinical Sciences.

"A few years ago it began to spread to some territories and the past began here, which represents an advantage for graduates in Medicine who choose it since they do not have to spend four years in the capital, away from their relatives, or postpone personal projects. Also, it favors the development of the specialty in the province with the incorporation of necessary human resources."

The purpose of the National Group of the specialty, she explained, is to have one geneticist for every 60 thousand inhabitants. "Today Las Tunas requires, at least, eight professionals of this branch, distributed by the municipalities. The specialty demands the use of state-of-the-art technologies; but in our country, by the idea of our Historical Leader Fidel Castro Ruz, it also works in the primary level of care.” 

With these residents in training, she said, the needs of half the municipalities of Las Tunas are covered.

In recent years, the interest of professionals in Clinical Genetics has increased; something that was not very common long ago and, according to Orive Rodríguez, this awakening may be related to a greater knowledge of its object of study. Teaching programs have been subject to a transformation from the increase in content volumes and new teaching methodologies, more in tune with the current context, she argued.

"We suppose that this is also influenced by the fact that today chronic diseases in adulthood have an important component in genes; and cancer, in particular, has a purely genetic origin, although it is not always hereditary."

Besides, congenital malformations are the second leading cause of death in children under one year of age. We are currently facing the COVID-19, an infectious disease that, according to studies, the development of severe forms depends on genetic factors.

The head of the Provincial Department of Genetics insisted that this specialty is the essence of everything that today requires greater understanding, from molecular bases to basic life issues, and that they are not only resolved with clinical management; finding these answers would allow the design of more effective strategies to deal with different diseases.

"Genetics determines the state of health, more than that of the disease, and underlies as the basis of almost all diseases. It is also an essential element to determine, even the response of individuals to a specific drug. Our specialty is occupying the space that corresponds to it within medical knowledge and, even, of the population itself," she concluded.