Cuba's National Assembly of the People's Power (ANPP) Chairman Esteban Lazo on Tuesday insisted on inter-sectorial to mitigate child and maternal mortality rates in the country, as it was revealed at a joint debate of the Standing Commissions on Health and Sports and the Commission on Youth, Children and Women's Equal Rights during ANPP´s 1st Session where the Maternal and Infant Program (PAMI) progress was updated.

Havana, Cuba.- Cuba's health authorities detailed that as many as 41,761 live births were reported in Q1 2023 (3,139 less than in 2022). In turn, the preschool mortality rate was 2.9 per 10,000 inhabitants; the school mortality rate was 2.0 per 10,000 inhabitants; and the under-five mortality rate was 9.2 per 1,000 live births.

Given this scenario, Esteban Lazo also stressed that both family and school must work together to reverse this situation.

Lazo also explained that it is pivotal to strengthen work together with the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), the Federation of Cuban Women (FMC), and with both Public Health and Education Ministries (MINSAP and MINED, respectively).

Esteban Lazo called for resuming positive indicators Cuba presented in previous years – compared to developed nations – and urged to carry out actions in this regard.

Cuba’s Public Health Minister José Ángel Portal, on the other hand, reiterated that child mortality is a sensitive indicator. (PL)