Gobierno de Reconciliación y Unidad Nacional
Unida Nicaragua Triunfa
INTERVENTION BY THE DELEGATION OF NICARAGUA AT THE INTER-AMERICAN COUNCIL
FOR INTEGRAL DEVELOPMENT CIDI-OAS SESSION ON NON-TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES AND
ADVANCES OF THE NON-TRANSMISSIBLE CHRONIC DISEASES PROGRAM IN NICARAGUA
NOVEMBER 6, 2019
Thank you Madam President
The Delegation of the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity (GRUN), thanks the distinguished Ambassador Rita Claverie Díaz for the convening of this meeting, as well as for the presentations made by Dr. Anselm Hennis and Dr. Fabio Gomes, special guests from PAHO.
When referring to chronic non-transmissible diseases, we can state that they represent the most important cause of death in the world, with 63% of the total yearly deaths. Such is the impact on public health that more than 36 million persons die because of chronic diseases each year, and about 80% of the deaths are concentrated in low and middle-income countries.
More than 9 million deaths are attributed to chronic non-transmissible diseases in persons under 60 years, therefore its prevention has become a real challenge for many of our governments.
Many doctors agree that the main causes of chronic diseases reside in non-health sectors that are deeply conditioned by the products offered and the commercial practices of the food industry. The consumption of liquor and tobacco and poor nutrition are causes that could lead the human being to suffer a chronic disease.
That is why doctors recommend having a rich in protein and balanced diet, not to eat junk foods, do physical exercises and have a healthy recreation practice.
Chronic diseases are long-term conditions with a generally slow progression; the most significant are cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
Human beings are suffering today many diseases that become chronic non-transmissible, hence the need to develop strategies and public policies to treat these diseases and provide better health coverage to the population.
The government of Nicaragua, aware of this problem, held on June 14 this year, the IV International Forum on Chronic Non-transmissible Diseases, which had the participation and important contributions of specialists from Guatemala, Panama and the United States.
As explained by Dr. Carlos Sáenz, Secretary General of the Ministry of Health of Nicaragua, chronic non-transmissible diseases have exceeded infectious diseases as the main cause of disability and mortality morbidity. This alteration has important implications for the organization, the financing and the provision of health care and generates a new challenge that we must resolved as States.
In Nicaragua, we have achieved important advances in the Chronic Non-Transmissible Diseases Program.
1) We have organized the chronic patient care program within the Family and Community Health Model.
2) There is a National Census of patients with chronic diseases that are been treated within the Ministry of Health.
3) Patients with chronic non-transmissible diseases are guaranteed free and specialized care.
4) House-to-house visits to chronic patients ensure health promotion and prevention.
5) A community network for the detection and reference of cases in communities has been developed.
6) Training of primary health care and hospitals personnel in addressing chronic diseases.
7) Guidance for clinical management of chronic diseases.
8) At the municipal level, we hold meetings for the promotion of healthy lifestyles in houses for people with special needs and chronicle diseases.
9) The Ministry of Health (MINSA) has a website that includes a health map with the number of chronic patients treated by sector, which is updated every three months.
Regarding the advances in Kidney Health
10) We have a strategic kidney health plan.
11) We have expanded free health care coverage for patients with kidney replacement therapy, providing more units for hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis services.
12) Kidney Health Clinics have been inaugurated in 17 departments of the country.
13) We have a survey for prevalence of kidney disease in Nicaragua.
14) We are developing research in kidney disease.
15) We have updated Clinical Care Management Guidelines, for patients with kidney disease.
16) We have carried out 41 kidney transplants in the country.
17) We are developing the National Registry of Chronic Kidney Disease for the surveillance of cases.
18) We are training primary care staff for the promotion, prevention and care of kidney disease.
19) We continue to train specialists for early and comprehensive care with a multidisciplinary approach.
Regarding Advances in Oncology
20) In attention for cancer, we continue to promote the program for early detection of breast, cervix and prostate cancer, and strengthen the ability to detect others such as stomach cancer.
21) To diagnose cancer patients, 22 pathology laboratories have been equipped in the country. We have a National Cytology Center for the detection of injuries that can progress to uterine cancer, and 23 mammographers to identify suspicious injuries of breast cancer.
22) Surgeries and chemotherapies are being performed and decentralized to six departments in the country.
23) Radiation therapy with necessary and modern equipment is available, being the linear accelerator the most advanced.
Among other achievements in health care, we have the reduction of maternal mortality, infant mortality and the transfer of HIV from mother to child. In 2018, only two children were born with HIV, out of 94 women with that disease. It is also to be highlighted, that almost 4 million doses of vaccines were applied this year, reaching 94% of national coverage.
The Miracle Operation program attended 13,300 people who recover their sight.
149,400 meetings have been developed with protagonists in chronic patients houses.
Through the Everyone with Voice Program, 300,000 visits were made to persons with disabilities, and 2,500 auxiliary means were delivered.
In addition, five regions of the country can carry out Chemotherapies, and a simulator tomograph was installed for diagnosis and planning on cancer patients. The country also has a linear accelerator, for the first time in its history.
In 2018, 66 pain clinics and 166 natural medicine clinics were installed, providing 120,000 attentions. During this period, 428,000 patients were admitted to hospitals and 293,000 surgeries were executed.
2,200 patients are being treated for tuberculosis, and HIV patients receive comprehensive care.
Throughout the year, 35 national and international conferences and forums were held.
Madam President, the above is a reflection on the fact that in Nicaragua, health care is and continues to be a priority for the GRUN – Government of Reconciliation and National Unity; as a result, many achievements have been made during all these years of good governance management with the support of the families and communities of our country.
Thank you very much Madam President.