Maternity homes are fundamental to guarantee follow-up care and adequate nutrition for pregnant women.
The Las Tunas Provincial Health Directorate is strengthening the strategies of the Maternal and Child Care Program (PAMI, in Spanish) to improve the health indicators that currently compromise the well-being of the mothers and newborns.
Las Tunas, Cuba.– In the context of one of the highest rates of adolescent fertility in the country, health authorities have focused on the need for more rigorous and personalized case management.
This was confirmed by Dr. Ariel Guevara Bringas, Director General of Health in the province, "Technically, we must know how to manage the program so that cases don't get out of hand. In the second half of the month, a case-by-case evaluation will be implemented to reverse the most complex statistics."
Beyond the pregnancy figures, the health system in the province faces a danger that puts the lives of newborns at risk. "Today, what affects the region and the country most is preterm birth, so we must address the causes that prevent women from carrying their pregnancies to term," explained Guevara Bringas.
Specialists agree that pregnant adolescents are physiologically more prone to complications such as gestational hypertension, severe urinary tract infections, and hemorrhaging —factors that lead to births before the 37th week of gestation.
Given this situation, authorities have focused on the operation of maternity homes, institutions designed to guarantee follow-up care and adequate nutrition for pregnant women. However, one of the biggest concerns facing PAMI in the province is the recurrence of non-medical discharges.
This phenomenon, which stems from various social and personal causes, interrupts the required medical monitoring and exposes mothers and their babies to avoidable risks.
In facing this situation, mass organizations and community groups become a fundamental pillar. The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR) have prioritized blood donation and the collection of medicines for healthcare facilities. At the same time, the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC) is intensifying its community work by holding workshops in maternity homes and health centers, where they discuss the difficulties that irresponsible behavior can cause for both the mother and the unborn child.
In this regard, the work of the family doctor and nurse is irreplaceable. Health authorities emphasize the importance of personalized home visits to pregnant women to ensure early detection and continuous monitoring, as well as the reliable supply of contraceptives through medical offices.
