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Reducing Maternal/Infant mortality

The Ambassador of the United States in Nicaragua, Paul A. Trivelli and Connie Johnson, USAID/Nicaragua Chief of Human Investment, inaugurated on Wednesday, August 30th, the Regional Educational Training Center for Pediatric Care of the San Juan de Dios Hospital in the city of Esteli.  Support for this center is part of USAID’s $2.5 million Quality Assurance Project.

USAID provides technical assistance for improving public and private health services, particularly those relating to maternal and infant care.  The project is giving support to 14 of the 17 Local Integral Health Care Systems (SILAIS) throughout the country:  San Juan River, Jinotega, Matagalpa, Granada, Boaco, Chontales, Chinandega, Esteli, the Autonomous Atlantic South Region (RAAS) and the Autonomous Atlantic North Region (RAAN), Nueva Segovia, Madriz, Masaya, and Leon.

The new training center will help improve the skills of health personnel responsible for maternal and infant care in the Department of Esteli.  Four other centers have been established in Leon, Chinandega, Madriz and RAAS, with plans to set up additional centers in each departmental hospital.  In addition, USAID will give $50,000 in medical equipment that will include incubators, emergency lamps for surgery rooms, laboratory equipment, instruments for monitoring vital signs in various hospitals, including the San Juan de Dios Hospital.


RESULTS TO DATE

• Maternal mortality rate is zero at the SILAIS in Esteli.
• A 32% reduction in infant deaths due to pneumonia and diarrhea in public hospitals in Masaya, Chinandega, Esteli, Madriz, and Matagalpa in 2005.