Jorge Alexis Pérez González, head of the Neonatology Service and of the Provincial Group of this specialty, offered the following interview related to the strengthening of intensive care at the Iván Portuondo General Teaching Hospital in San Antonio de los Baños.
What is the objective of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit?
Intensive neonatal therapy is intended for the care of children born with a risk factor or some pathology. Underweight newborns (less than 1,500 grams) and babies born preterm (before 37 weeks of gestation) require intensive care.
Why do preterm newborns require intensive therapy?
The preterm newborn requires intensive therapy because they need special care, minimal intervention and also attention focused on its development.
How is the medical team of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit structured?
The team consists of 7 intensive care physicians who are responsible for attending patients during this stage. We also have a team of nurses, directly linked to babies. They are responsible for providing care focused on their development and protect them from pain.
How do parents interact with their babies?
The mother has the right to interact with her baby every three hours; even mothers of patients with severe respiratory diseases have this possibility. The father or other relatives can visit them once a day.
How does the group of specialists feel when babies evolve positively?
When a patient leaves intensive care, it is an achievement for health personnel because our work is aimed at saving lives. The most important value of our service is that our patients leave intensive care with an adequate quality of life.