Cuba Concludes Year 2009 with Infant Mortality Rate of 4.8

Las Tunas, (Main Writing Tiempo21).- Cuba closed the year 2009 with a children mortality rate of 4.8 per 1,000 live births, similar to that of 2008 (4.7), the lowest in her history.

Granma newspaper highlights that in spite of the pandemic of the flue AH1N1, eight provinces were below that rate, among these Holguin, with the lowest (3.5), Las Tunas (3,6) while 21 municipalities report zero mortality.

During the period there were 130, 027 births, which means an increment of natality of 7, 458 children in connection with 2008, thanks to the work of the workers of the Public Health.

The main causes of neonatal mortality are the perinatal diseases, the low weight of the newly born (less than 1 500 grams), and incompatible congenital anomalies with the life, fundamentally the cardiovascular illnesses.

The principles of accessibility, gratuity and universality of care in the country favor the medical consultations for every citizen. And given the pandemic situation generated by the AH1N1 flu virus, and the particular vulnerability of pregnant women, those who have recently given birth (up to 42 days), and children up to 12 months – or of any age with chronic disorders – an active screening process for this high-risk group began last September, including daily home visits by local polyclinic personnel and other sectors of society, in order to help families in the early detection of respiratory symptoms.

The report aslo includes the congratulation of the minister of Public Health, Jose Ramon Balaguer to the professionals, technicians and paramedics without which these results had not been possible.

Translation: Ernesto Gutierrez Pino

Las Tunas Achieves Its Second Best Infant Mortality Rate
January 1, 2010, 5:30 pm

Very Low Infant Mortality Rate Las Tunas
December 25 2009, 3:00 pm

Related Places:

.Cuban News Agency

.Latin American News Agency