Survival of Newborns Rises in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba

Although 2012 has just begun, figures show encouraging signs so far: the 18 children who required mechanical ventilation during their admission in the neonatal ward of the Provincial Hospital Camilo Cienfuegos, in Sancti Spiritus, central Cuba, have been saved.

For 4 years a new method has also been applied to preemies apart from the medical treatment: the “skin-to-skin therapy” or the “kangaroo care”, as it is commonly known.

According to Dr. Midalis Martinez Barrios, first-degree specialist in Neonatology and chief of the service at the hospital, “the root causes of admission include the respiratory distress syndrome, infections and extreme prematurity, although the latter has not affected that much up to now. ”

For 4 years a new method has also been applied to preemies apart from the medical treatment: the “skin-to-skin therapy” or the “kangaroo care”, as it is known. This technique has validated the positive effects in terms of the vitality of children, weight gain and the mother-child bond.

The neonatal unit, fitted out with 25 beds and high-tech equipment such as incubators, modern ventilators and warmers, welcomes children born in the institution as well as some others delivered in Sancti Spiritus municipalities who present specific pathologies that require this type of hospitalization.

Last year more than a thousand children were admitted in the neonatology ward while benefiting from specialized care, and over the 80% was discharged succesfully.

In 2008 the provincial maternity was inserted inside the Provincial Hospital Camilo Cienfuegos, in central Cuba, thus, bringing about tied bonds among the different specialties.