CUBANET ... CUBANEWS

February 11, 2002



FROM CUBA

Contagious diseases on the increase in Pinar del Río

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 doesn’t 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 haven’t 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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