Havana, December 26 (RHC)-- Cuba's special municipality of the Isle of Youth registers the country's best results of the national mother and child program in 2016 with an infant mortality rate of 2.1 for every one thousand live births and no maternal deaths registered over the past twelve months.

Health director in the territory, Dr. Iván Silvera praised the work developed by personnel at the Héroes del Baire Hospital, the main local health institution, where for the first time this year all childbirths took place. 

He also congratulated personnel at the primary health care level, saying 'they take really good care of women both physically and emotionally during the whole pregnancy.'

Meanwhile, the central province of Cienfuegos closes 2016 with an infant mortality rate of 2.8 per every one thousand live births –Cuba's second lowest--, as the province has further consolidated its prenatal and pediatric care.

Health Director Dr. Salvador Tamayo Muñiz said the result attests to the joint effort by health personnel at the primary care level and the teams of gynecologists, neonatologists and pediatricians at hospital level.

Upon noting that every pregnancy carries its risks, the health specialist stressed that Cuba's national mother and child program is designed to provide pregnant women with free, high-quality prenatal care and support, thus minimizing those risks.