in Santa Clara City
Before 1959 Cuba had a high pediatric and maternity mortality rate resulting from the high number of non-institutionalised deliveries and low levels of proteic-caloric nourishing besides the high incidence of tetanus neonatorum, asphyxia and post partum trauma. Since the triumph of the Revolution important resources have been allocated for Villa Clara Province and several institutions have been specialised, among them a maternity hospital and a pediatric hospital with intermediate and intensive care units besides a system for medical emergencies specialised in first aid. In particular the "Mariana Grajales" Maternity Hospital in Santa Clara is now suffering a remarkable deterioration due to excessive use and technological backwardness with most equipment non-repairable because it is obsolete and spare parts are not produced in the country.
The wards and operating theatres need repairing and re-equipping including the purchase of a scanner for the diagnosis of congenital malformations, the sewer system needs to be replaced, and the roof requires waterproofing.
To be able to offer a higher quality care to users of the hospital, services need remodelling and enlarging, the physicians, paramedics and health technicians require training in the latest scientific information, techniques and technology, and an increase is sought in the number of activities to improve the educational health knowledge of the population mainly in Maternal-Infantile Health. The total cost of the project is a staggering $340,000 although funding is being sought for the various stages with construction and equipment costing from $2000 to $90,000.
Blackpool and Fylde CSC together with the generous help of Brighton CSC has recently handed £6000 to ICAP in Santa Clara for the remodelling of the emergency area and now aims to raise a further $5000 (£3000) towards the remodelling of the laparoscopic surgical area. Regular subscriptions can be made via our Medical Appeal (click here) or donations sent to Geoff Bottoms at 2, St Monica's Way, Blackpool FY4 4FA.