It has been more than half a century since the Octavio de la Concepcion de la Pedraja Children Hospital began its humane work in Holguin. The giant of pediatrics in the province, with more than 25 specialties that provide assistance to the infant-juvenile population, has been celebrating its birthday every October, since 1971 when the former Palace of Justice was transformed into a children’s hospital.
The ceremony took place in the afternoon of October 12, the day on which the martyr who bears the name of the institution, the doctor who was a member of Che’s guerrilla in Bolivia, was assassinated.
The celebration was attended by workers, patients, relatives and guests, because nowadays it is not possible to conceive the functioning of health services in the province without this hospital, which has become essential for us.
Acknowledgement, founders, Pediatric Hospital, Holguín
On the occasion, recognition was also given to founders who survive the celebration and to those who are no longer with us, but who have left a footprint in its history. In the latter case, the children of the eminent pediatrician Julio Grave de Peralta and the recently deceased social worker Esther María Rodríguez Vargas received the recognition.
Georgina Amelia Guerrero Guerrero is the founder of this hospital, so she does not hide her feelings about what this center means: “For me it is important to have dedicated part of my life to working with children, since October 10, 1971 I have been working here and I have become so accustomed to contributing to the health of children that I reached retirement age and I continue to work here. I have dedicated my whole life to this institution and I have done it with much love”.
During the ceremony, the Prime Minister of Cuba, Manuel Marrero Cruz, also congratulated the hospital workers, expressing his recognition to the medical and service personnel who so sensitively take care of patients as important as children.
Talking about the passage of time and more than half a century of scientific, assistance and human attention to the children of this and other eastern provinces means not overlooking the work of the health personnel who work tirelessly every day and beyond maintaining favorable indicators, to achieve the prompt recovery of those who arrive with health problems.
Antonia María Salermo Reyes, second degree specialist in Otorhinolaryngology, has been working uninterruptedly at the institution for 23 years: “I have the great privilege of working at this center since the year 2000, I decided to decline my professional life for ENT and from that moment on I started working here. It is like our second home, the place where we feel happy, where we are able to practice our work and save so many lives.
I am proud to have a group where we are all colleagues, like brothers and sisters, and we work with the same goal, to save and improve the lives of our patients. It is where every day we know that we have the mission to give our best effort for the lives of the little ones”.
Specialist, Pediatric Hospital, Holguín
Dr. María de la Caridad Osorio Mora, Deputy Surgical Director, but a basic gynecobstetrician, explains that she arrived at the hospital in 2008 to work in the area of infant-juvenile gynecology, a necessary specialty that perhaps because of the intimacy of these issues goes unnoticed, but is extremely useful.
“It is a source of pride and an immense commitment to take care of the reproductive health of girls and young women of today who will be future mothers. In fact, many conditions that were not seen before are treated in consultation because this specialty arrived in Cuba in 1996.
“It is a source of pride and an immense commitment to take care of the reproductive health of today’s girls and young women who will be future mothers. In fact, many conditions that were not seen before are treated in consultation because this specialty arrived in Cuba in 1996.
I would like to congratulate everyone on this anniversary, from those who were there at the beginning of this hospital with four services, to today where we have surgical services in Otorhinolaryngology, Orthopedics and Surgery with a regional action, with a hundred percent survival rate, first-world results. To build these achievements many have played a leading role, that is why we want to extend our congratulations to each and every one of those who made and are part of its history and present”.
Recognition, 52nd Anniversary, founding of the Pediatric Hospital, Holguin
A special recognition was given to one of the fathers of pediatrics in Holguin, Dr. Francisco Gonzalez Celá and the distinction as Master of Generations was awarded to Dr. Galina Galcerán Chacón, who for several years directed the institution and currently serves as rector of the University of Medical Sciences of Holguin.
The fact that the pediatric hospital of Holguin bears the name of Octavio de la Concepción de la Pedraja, surgeon of Che’s guerrilla in Bolivia, is an honor but at the same time a commitment to provide more health to the children of this and other provinces of the eastern region.
At present, this institution is a reference center for different specialties such as neonatal surgery, pediatric neurosurgery, child psychiatry, orthopedics and oncohematology. So far this year, a survival rate of over 98 percent has been achieved, where more than 19,700 patients have been hospitalized.
A high survival rate is achieved with increasing results in the different services, all covered by well prepared and trained professionals, who provide optimal care, a result that is evidenced by the recovery of the children who arrive with health problems and leave for their homes smiling and with their health restored.
For this provincial hospital to reach 52 years of existence means a commitment to improve its work and continue to watch over the health of the little ones.
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