Asunción, IP Agency.- Paraguay must build true State policies to move towards universal access to health services and thus strengthen its health system, stated the Minister of Health, María Teresa Barán.
Barán commented that one of the axes that most concerns him in his management is ensuring that the Ministry of Health can have effective use of its rectory and, above all, that it can be fulfilled.
“Above all things, we can build a State policy that can be transferred to the next government. In health we cannot advance because many times there is jealousy, we must try to mature as Paraguayans and build true policies, which are not partisan politics,” he expressed.
He mentioned that this will allow us to move towards universal access to health services. It was during the interview she had with the presidential spokesperson, Paula Carro, from the Trinidad Maternal and Child Hospital.
Likewise, he reported that the president asked the ministers to try to put an end to all acts of corruption at all levels, “in what corresponds to me and the Ministry of Health,” he said.
Primary health care
He also emphasized the need to continue strengthening the primary health care strategy, which began 15 years ago in Paraguay. Currently, there are almost 950 Family Health Units (FHUs) distributed throughout the country.
“We need 1,750 USF to cover 100 percent of the population,” he admitted while highlighting the support of the binationals, as well as the municipalities and governorates to continue expanding said strategy.
In this way, the aim is to prevent people from getting sick, through timely consultation in their community, with resolution capacity and, above all, having all the essential medicines available, he explained.
Surgical marathons: 3,000 interventions nationwide
At another time, he spoke of the combined and team work instructed by the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña. In this context, he commented on the surgical marathons that allowed more than 3,000 scheduled interventions to be carried out nationwide, reaching places where this service had never been reached before.
“In some places, the governorates, the municipalities, the IPS, the Hospital de Clínicas have collaborated, we are all working together to achieve the objective,” he added.
National Hospital of Itauguá
At another time, Barán highlighted the historic visit made by President Peña and the first lady, Leticia Ocampos, to the National Hospital of Itauguá, where the deterioration suffered by this reference center could be detected, which is why a series of problems are being faced. palliative improvements until a new hospital is built.
Regarding the point, he indicated that coordinated work allows us to achieve much more, in less time and with greater quality to have the dreamed-of National Hospital of Itauguá, during this Government. “I think that in two or three years we will be inaugurating it,” he predicted.
He clarified that while the new infrastructure is built, the current one will not stop, that is, everything related to consultations, surgeries and care in general. Everything will continue to be done, she reinforced.
Two new hospitals would be inaugurated this year
Along the same lines, he reported that among the president’s priorities are: the construction of the Coronel Oviedo Hospital and the Hospital del Sur, which would become the first digital centers, through an alliance with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (Mitic).
“If possible we want to enable them this year. The other priorities are the National Hospital, we also already have financing for the Great Hospital of Asunción and the Great Hospital of Santaní, those are the projections that we have today,” he expressed.
In this context, the Secretary of State recognized that there are many building deficiencies in hospitals in the interior of the country. We are not going to neglect that but we are also already planning the construction of those already mentioned, which we are doing in coordination with the Ministry of Public Works, she stated.
Zero Hunger Law
Regarding the issue, the head of the Ministry of Health highlighted that this is a law whose impact will be decisive, since malnutrition can be reduced, in turn achieving effective school insertion. Education is the best way out of poverty, she stressed.
“It is one of the most emblematic programs of this Government because it is attacking something fundamental, which is that children who go to school do not have an empty stomach. It has a very important impact in the short, medium and long term,” he added.
From a public health point of view, the benefit that we are going to have is enormous, María Teresa Barán finally reinforced.
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2024-04-24 00:52:34