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- An investment of US$850,000 will make it possible to operate in 78 health centers and nine hospitals.
- The activity is part of the Salud Mesoamerica Initiative, which has already benefited 85,000 children and women.
San Salvador, 22 October 2019.
The Ministry of Health of El Salvador (MINSAL) will invest US$850,000 until January 2021 with the objective of further strengthening and improving the quality of health services for women and children in the poorest areas of the country. This investment is the result of a new agreement reached with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to extend the activities of the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative (SMI), a project that has made significant progress over the past eight years in providing access to quality health services for more than 26,000 children and 59,000 women.
The investment committed by the Salvadoran health authorities will be rewarded by a contribution of US$680,000 financed by SMI partners, if the country meets the objectives set at the beginning of this operation.
The main objective of this project is to improve the quality of maternal and child care in hospitals that serve the poorest municipalities of the country.
The hospitals that will receive this investment are the Dr. Francisco Menéndez National General Hospital in Ahuachapán, the San Rafael National General Hospital in La Libertad, the Dr. José Luis Saca National General Hospital in Ilobasco, the Sensuntepeque National General Hospital, the Santa Gertrudis National General Hospital in San Vicente, the Nuestra Señora de Fátima National General Hospital in Cojutepeque, the Santa Teresa National General Hospital in Zacatecoluca, the Dr. Héctor Antonio Hernández Flores National General Hospital in San Francisco Gotera and the Santa Rosa de Lima National General Hospital.
The new commitment of the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative in El Salvador comes after the great advances achieved in the two previous operations, which began in 2012 and 2015 with the objective of contributing to the reduction of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in 14 of the poorest municipalities of the country through the strengthening of the Comprehensive and Integrated Health Networks.
SMI in El Salvador has had very good results, including: an increase in institutional delivery, from 85.7% in 2013 to 98.3% in 2017; an increase in the use of modern family planning methods, which rose from 53.9% to 75% in just three years; prenatal care during the first trimester of pregnancy, which rose from only 58.7% in 2013 to 74.6% in 2017. Also noteworthy is the increase in the number of children aged between 12 and 23 months vaccinated against mumps, rubella and measles, from 65.5 per cent in 2013 to 91.1 per cent in 2017.
SMI is a public-private managed initiative created in 2011 and managed by the IDB that aims to support Mesoamerican countries to achieve the health goals set for 2015, especially regarding women and children living in the poorest 20% of the population in Mesoamerica.
This partnership is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carlos Slim Foundation and the Government of Canada. The SMI project focuses on improving access to quality health services for 1.8 million women and children in Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Belize and the state of Chiapas in Mexico.
About IDB
The Inter-American Development Bank's mission is to improve lives. Founded in 1959, the IDB is one of the main sources of long-term financing for the economic, social and institutional development of Latin America and the Caribbean. The IDB also conducts cutting-edge research projects and provides policy advice, technical assistance and training to public and private clients throughout the region.
The Regional Initiative for the Elimination of Malaria (RMEI) aims to end malaria in Mesoamerica in 2022. This is how we are going to make history.
Originally published in Spanish by Chiapas Secretary of Health
San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas.-
The State Government, through the Ministry of Health, recognized the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as a partner for promoting projects that strengthen timely care of obstetric and neonatal complications, which contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant mortality in the most vulnerable communities of the 18 municipalities of Sanitary Jurisdiction number II of San Cristóbal de Las Casas.
Within the framework of the IDB's 60th anniversary activities, the municipality of San Cristóbal de Las Casas was selected so that the members and directors of this organization, made up of 48 countries, could witness firsthand the successful experiences that the Ministry of Health of Chiapas has carried out to benefit the most vulnerable population.
Representing the state governor, Rutilio Escandón Cadenas, the Secretary of Health, José Manuel Cruz Castellanos, accompanied by the Executive Director for Mexico and the Dominican Republic, Juan Bosco Martí Ascencio; the IDB representative in Mexico, Tomás Bermúdez, and the IDB Health Specialist, Ana Mylena Aguilar, witnessed the successful strategies within the framework of the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative.
The head of the state agency mentioned that Health Jurisdiction number II benefits 18 municipalities in the Altos Tsotsil-Tseltal Region, where, together with the IDB's Salud Mesoamérica Initiative, the Línea de Vida program was implemented to care for women, pregnant women, postpartum women, newborns and children under five years of age, through health centers, maternity homes and the Community Social Network; as well as the Mater or Red Code project to attend obstetric emergencies and the improvement in adequate and dignified treatment in the Women's Hospital of San Cristóbal de Las Casas.
Cruz Castellanos stressed that successful experiences are a strong proof of working in synergy with organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank, with great advances in health to meet development indicators, so she thanked the investment and unconditional support they have put in Chiapas, as they have achieved great progress in reducing maternal death.
In turn, the executive director for Mexico and the Dominican Republic, Juan Bosco Marti Ascencio, emphasized that it is a great satisfaction to hear these life stories of mothers who managed to save their lives and those of their children, making it one of the best gifts on the anniversary of the IDB to know that it has helped so many women and children, and that thanks to the progress that Chiapas has achieved, it will continue to have the financial support of this organization.
While the IDB representative in Mexico, Tomás Bermúdez, stressed that these successful experiences are a reflection of the joint work of local and state health authorities, the community and the technical and financial support of the IDB, with which can achieve common objectives.
The first success story is that of Rufina, the midwife of the Maternity Home in Romerillo, municipality of San Juan Chamula, who presented her experience with two pregnant women. She said that both of them did not know how long they had been pregnant, so, as a midwife trained by health personnel, she immediately referred them to the Maternity Home of San Cristóbal de Las Casas so that they could have an ultrasound performed, diagnosing pregnancy in term and they were able to have their childbirth attended, thus avoiding maternal and infant death.
The second story is about Irene, who is the leader of the Community Social Network of the municipality of Aldama, who thanks to her convening power has managed to integrate more women, to whom she trains on the benefits of using a permanent or temporary method of family planning, and explains that the fewer children they have the better quality of life, that it is not good to have a child every year because it affects their health, and also invites men to participate in this activity.
The third story is about Linda Santiago, a native of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, who was diagnosed with eclampsia at 32 weeks of gestation. She went to the Women's Hospital in the municipality, where she was immediately admitted and activated the Mater or Red Code, which is a protocol for obstetric emergencies, with a comprehensive medical team that treated her in a timely manner and managed to save her life and that of her son.
Present at this event were Octavio Coutiño Niño, head of Sanitary Jurisdiction II; Sofia Carlota Aguilar Herrera, director of the Women's Hospital; Arturo Mariscal Ochoa, deputy director of Medical Care; and Emilio Ramírez Guzmán, secretary for the Sustainable Development of Indigenous Peoples. For the IDB, the executive directors for Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, Edna Gabriela Camacho; for Panama and Venezuela, Gina Montiel; and for Germany, Belgium, China, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland, Christiane Bogemann-Hagedorn.
The executive directors for Colombia and Peru, Gerardo Mario Corrochano Villalobos; for Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay, Germán Rojas Irigoyen; for Chile and Ecuador, Alejandro Foxley; for Argentina and Haiti, Federico Ignacio Poli; for the United States, Eliot Pedrosa; for Canada, Donald John Bobiash; and for Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, Selwin Charles Hart; as well as advisors, specialists and advisors.
Puerto Lempira is receiving the support of the Regional Malaria Elimination Initiative since July 2019 with the aim of strengthening these results
Watch here the video with the success story of Puerto Lempira
Washington, DC, November 6 2019- The Honduran municipality of Puerto Lempira has been chosen by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as an example in Latin America in the fight against malaria. The recognition came on November 6 at PAHO headquarters in Washington in the framework of an event for Malaria Day in the Americas.
Along with the success story of Puerto Lempira in its fight against malaria, PAHO also recognized the efforts of the town of São Gabriel da Cachoeira, in the Amazon of Brazil and La Gomera in Guatemala.
Puerto Lempira, in Honduras, has managed to reduce 92 percent of malaria cases from the work of a network of 167 trained volunteers and the use of technologies, such as geolocation, to identify the outbreaks of the disease and establish strategies prevention and control, such as the distribution of mosquito nets, residual fumigation inside homes and rapid case investigation.
In order to consolidate and maintain these achievements against malaria in Puerto Lempira and throughout the country, the Ministry of Health of Honduras and the Inter-American Development Bank signed on July 30, 2019 an agreement that includes an investment of more than eleven million US dollars (11,141,686 USD). More than seven million of this investment comes from the contribution of the Ministry of Health and the other four remaining by a group of a donor association formed by the Carlos Slim Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Global Fund.
According to PAHO, Puerto Lempira is an example of how sustained investments in key interventions, commitment and capacity building of volunteer partners, and the appropriate use of technology can pave the way to malaria elimination.
PAHO also considered that "among the three champions this year, Puerto Lempira was highlighted by the jury as an outstanding example."
"His work is innovative not only for malaria, but also for other diseases and conditions that may benefit from his experience, tools and platforms," said PAHO deputy director Jarbas Barbosa during the awards ceremony.
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Approximately half of the world's population is at risk of malaria, particularly those living in low-income countries. In the Americas, 132 million people live in areas at risk of malaria. According to PAHO's malaria experts, urgent action is needed to re-route the global response against malaria, and responsibility for the challenge lies with the most affected countries.
PAHO / WHO partners who deliver this recognition include the United Nations Foundation, the School of Public Health of the Milken Institute of the University of George Washington, the Center for Communication Programs of the Bloomberg School of Public Health of Johns Hopkins University, the Global Health Consortium of the Stempel School of Public Health and Social Work, the Florida International University, and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.
Malaria Day in the Americas is observed every November 6 to reinforce the region's commitment to the elimination of malaria and the prevention of its restoration. The annual Champions Against Malaria award seeks to recognize innovative and successfully demonstrated efforts in the prevention, control, elimination or prevention of the reintroduction of malaria that have significantly contributed to overcoming malaria challenges in communities, countries or America as a whole .
Costa Rica has made important progress in the reduction of teen pregnancies in the regions of Brunca and Huétar Caribe. From 2012 to 2018, the fertility rate among adolescents aged 10-19 in these regions shrank by 34.4 percent, while the fertility rate among adolescents with one or two children dropped by 27 percent. At the same time, 80 percent of adolescents treated in health centers following childbirth began using family planning methods. Costa Rican health services have provided comprehensive health treatment to 72,926 teenagers, approximately 75 percent of the adolescent population; and they have trained 342 youth volunteers tasked with sharing information and advice to teens through educational centers.
These figures reflect collaborative efforts led by Costa Rican organizations in the context of the Salud Mesoamerica Initiative, a results-based financing program that brings together participating governments, the Inter-American Development Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Carlos Slim Foundation, and the Government of Canada.
The Salud Mesoamerica Initiative began its work in Costa Rica in 2012 with the goal of reducing the number of teen pregnancies in the country. The achievement of objectives agreed upon by all initiative partners has unlocked a financing reward of $634,949 for the Costa Rican government, which can in turn be invested in any high-priority health project.
Since 2021, the Government of Costa Rica and Salud Mesoamerica partners have invested a total of $6,465,732 in reducing rates of teen pregnancy. This investment has been made across 11 health areas in the regions of Brunca and Huétar Caribe. The Costa Rican actors involved in the project include the Ministry of Health, the Costa Rican Social Security Service, PANI, CEN-CINAI, and the Ministry of Education.
When the operation first began in Costa Rica, an IDB survey revealed that 3 of every 5 students believed that birth control pills could protect them against Sexually Transmitted Infections; while 1 of every 10 considered that both women and men should share birth control pills, or that it was only necessary to take pills on those days that sexual relations occurred. Only half of students reported having used a condom the last time they were sexually active, while only 16 percent of those surveyed indicated that they had spoken to a health professional about sexual health at some point in their past. Only 20 percent had received professional guidance and advice about sexual and reproductive health. And finally, the data revealed that in 2012, about 5 percent of pregnancies in Costa Rica were attributed to mothers aged 10-19.
To address the challenges revealed in this survey, the Costa Rican authorities developed a three-pronged strategy focused on health, education, and social services. In the health space, the approach prioritized on creating new spaces within health centers to serve adolescents and providing training to specialized teams so they may advise young people on health-related matters. In addition, a new outreach strategy was developed to better engage young people, and new materials were created to clearly explain the psychosocial risks related to sexual and reproductive health. Finally, new didactic elements were created, and measures were put in place to make birth control prescriptions available, all in one place.
At educational centers, the initiative focused on implementing strategies to promote the adoption of healthy practices and mitigate risky behavior. In addition, a new model was created to train and empower youth volunteers to educate their peers on sexual and reproductive health matters.
In relation to social services, the initiative focused on addressing the most critical situations in collaboration with the social protection network PANI. And thanks to the organization CEN-CINAI, the initiative was able to expand services for treating and protecting children.
In addition to these efforts, the Costa Rican authorities created a digital database called SINA, which allows those providing health and other services to adolescents to upload detailed, individualized information about the unique situation and needs of every at-risk young person treated. The database compiles information related to the health, education, and social services required by these young people, with the ultimate goal of facilitating comprehensive solutions to meet all of their needs.
By 2018, the Salud Mesoamerica Initiative in Costa Rica had reached 75 percent of the adolescent population in the Brunca and Huétar Caribe regions. Thanks to the success of this operation, the Costa Rican authorities are preparing to scale this successful model to other parts of the country, with the same goal of reducing teen pregnancy.
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Autores: Zachary J. Madewell, Rafael Chacón-Fuentes, Jorge Jara, Homer Mejía-Santos, Ida-Berenice Molina, Juan Pablo Alvis-Estrada,… Ver más