PINAR DEL RIO, February (Víctor Rolando Arroyo, UPECI /
www.cubanet.org) - The increase in contagious diseased in Pinar del Río
province during 2001 casts doubt on the capabilities of the health system in the
region, according to Dr. Héctor Cruz, of the Cuban Medical Association in
the province.
According to Cruz, the provincial directorate of the Public Health Ministry
was severely criticized by the central authorities in the Ministry for adverse
results last year.
"The increase of acute gastrointestinal diseases, viral meningitis and
leptospirosis shows that the system doesnt work the way it should,"
said Dr. Cruz.
He added that environmental hygiene in the region is a concern, and that in
spite of the campaign being waged against the Aedes aegypti mosquito, there
havent been any substantial changes. He pointed out that drinking water
leaks have been plugged, but nothing has been done about waste water leaks.
UPECI obtained access to the annual summary of sanitary conditions in the
province, which states there was an increase in the number of deaths among
people in the care of government-operated old folks homes. Conditions in
these facilities are characterized by meager nutrition and general scarcity.
Cruz also mentioned that the dental service is also a serious problem in the
province. It lacks equipment and basic materials such as the components of the
amalgam used in fillings.
Sources say private dentists charge hefty sums for dental treatment not
available in the Public Health Ministry facilities.
Versión
original en español
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