Cuba prioritizes science and innovation in its governance, based on a close relationship between science and technology, in search of technological autonomy, innovation orientation, cooperation, transdisciplinarity and a direct and interactive link with decision-makers. Based on this principle, the 47th edition of the Annual Health Award 2024 was held on June 19 at the University of Medical Sciences of Holguin (UCMHo).
It is considered the most important event granted by the Ministry of Public Health every year to professionals with relevant results in research related to medical sciences, in correspondence with the objectives, priorities and challenges of the National Health System.
In the present edition, a total of 91 works were registered in the different modalities and categories, with representation of professionals from the municipalities of Holguín, Mayarí, Banes, Moa, Gibara and Cueto. Of these, 26 works, selected according to their quality and scientific rigor, were classified in the round of analysis of the tribunals for the final scientific day.
Relevant scientific research recognized in the Annual Health Award
According to Dr. Adelmar Agüero Ulliver, president of the Provincial Council of Scientific Health Societies, “the consideration made by the organizing committee of the award on this occasion is that it is superior to previous years.
The number of works submitted to the contest has increased, the number of institutions that participated, the number of municipalities that also voluntarily presented their researchers and because 14 doctoral theses were presented, since the year 2023 was a very productive year in this sense, of course, with an important scientific rigor”.
In addition, the doctor went on to say that with respect to the previous year, a greater number of health problems in our province are also being addressed, and that the prize is in compliance with the presentation of works in all the lines of research that the prize calls for.
Relevant scientific research recognized in the Annual Health Award
However, he clarified, “we believe that the number of professionals participating in the award could still grow, institutional management is still needed so that more professionals can participate, the tribunals in each municipality can achieve greater rigor in the analysis of the proposals submitted at the provincial level”, he concluded.
This time the members of the tribunals were all doctors of science, with the participation of a growing number of young people who are leading important research in the territory, guaranteeing the continuity of the generation of scientists that has characterized the sector for years.
After the scientific session 11 awards and 15 mentions were announced. Among those recognized by the specialty thesis tribunal were Dr. Dadiagna Duvalón Soto with her research on the Value of Computerized Axial Tomography in the diagnosis of lymphomas and Dr. Dainet Zaragoza Guerrero with respect to Anthropometric indicators in overweight pregnant women and their relationship with the weight of the newborn.
As for the Master’s theses, the prizes went to Dr. Aliuska Yanet Fernández Mora, who presented an Integrative Therapeutic Diagnostic Protocol by Skull Microsystem in patients with Usher Syndrome and Dr. Katia María Matos Bruzón with the proposal of an Integrative Therapeutic Diagnostic Protocol with acupuncture for breast cancer patients with post-chemotherapy adverse reactions of the Holguín Territorial Oncology Center.
The main scientific and technological results were achieved by the book Methodology of contemporary teaching of Internal Medicine, by Luis Aníbal Alonso Betancourt, Ph. Eiliana Cruz González, with the Generalization of the model for the Nursing care of the newborn with esophageal atresia; Dr.C. Maikel López Aballe with a Methodology to contribute to the clinical training of the students of Medicine and the students Virgen Leticia Pupo Cruz and Mariliam Martínez Igarza with the researches Intraventricular Hemorrhage in premature neonates. Hospital General Universitario Vladimir Lenin and Caracterización del distrés respiratorio en los recién nacidos del Hospital Vladimir Ilich Lenin, respectively.
Relevant scientific research recognized in the Annual Health Award
Presentation of the Scientific Articles Award to Dr. Alberto Rubén Piriz Assa. Photo: Maylín Betancourt Verdecia.
Finally, the Scientific Articles Tribunal awarded two prizes, to Dr. Jorge Baudilio Vega Abascal with a Predictive model of cardiovascular disease based on artificial intelligence in primary health care and to Dr. Alberto Rubén Piriz Assa with Lymphocytopenia as a biomarker of severity in pediatric patients with Covid-19.
Referring to the latter, the author said that “the article was made thanks to the cooperation of the UCMHo, the Fermín Valdés Military Hospital and the Pediatric Hospital Octavio de la Concepción de la Pedraja. The work consisted in the fact that even without having Covid-19 in Cuba, we were prepared at the IPK to try to establish lines of work and when the peak of the epidemic arrived to be able to determine which patients could be in an isolation center and which patients could be in a hospital”.
Thus, the first six months of Covid-19 were studied with a database of 705 patients. A severity marker was made which is through a leukogram, which is a simple analysis that is done in all on-call corps, and through that leukogram, with its results, it was established as a biomarker of severity. This was taken to an APK and with it the doctors were able to decide who would stay in an isolation center and who would go to a hospital because they were at risk of progressing to a serious condition, concluded the head of the province’s Maternal and Infant Care Program (PAMI).
Annual Health Award recognizes relevant scientific research
Presentation of the grand prize in the Annual Health Prize competition at the provincial level to Dr. Mildred Gutiérrez Segura. Photo: Maylín Betancourt Verdecia.
Relevant scientific research recognized in the Annual Health Award
For the first time in this type of event, three new award categories were incorporated: the authors of doctoral theses defended during the year 2023, the Scientific Merit Award for Lifetime Achievement, granted to Rafael Manuel Trinchet Soler, PhD, and the Annual Grand Prize for Health received by Dr.C. Mildred Gutiérrez Segura, with the research “Teaching and learning of prosthetic rehabilitation with educational software”. In this sense, the specialist in first and second degree prosthesis explained that this research was the result of her doctoral thesis, “where we proposed a methodology to integrate educational software in the teaching-learning process for rehabilitation.
It is not framed only in rehabilitation because it is a result applicable to other areas of medical sciences. This allows using this type of resources in the teaching of different subjects, guiding teachers methodologically to achieve the maximum use of these potentialities provided by information and communication technologies”.
Holguín has a wide representation in the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and a branch of excellence, where all the areas of knowledge are integrated; in order to contribute to the development of the country.
Relevant scientific research recognized in the Annual Health Award
Therefore, in his closing remarks, the General Director of Health, Julio Yamel Verdecia Reyes, made a necessary reference to the fact that “in all the presentations, the ethical conduct of the research and its methodological rigor prevailed, impact works, loaded with concrete and updated knowledge, with greater representation in the lines of research related to maternal and child health, sexual and reproductive health, which respond to the constant effort to maintain the quality of PAMI. The results reflected in the awards obtained make us feel optimistic, proud and committed to the work carried out and constitute motivation for future challenges”.
Hence, at the closing ceremony, congratulations were extended both to the authors and to the members of the expert and impartial tribunals; to the doctors of science who give prestige to this scenario, to the participating institutions and contestants and especially to the Chapter of Bioenergetic Medicine, for their contribution to the scientific society.
The 47th edition of the Annual Health Award undoubtedly constitutes an incentive for greater participation in future editions of other health institutions in the territory, especially those of Primary Health Care. It is necessary to promote work that responds to the health framework of the province and the programs prioritized by the Ministry of Public Health.
- Relevant scientific research recognized in the Annual Health Award - 21 de June de 2024