Pediatric Crisis in Tartagal: The Intensive Therapy Was Closed and Surgeries Canceled Due To Lack of Doctors
<p style="line-height: 20.8px;"><span style="line-height: 20.8px;">In addition, the audit report of Salta reveals that out of every hundred children attending the zonal hospital ten cannot be treated. In the previous year, referrals doubled due to lack of staff. The infant mortality rate reported by the health center is seven points less than that given by the Ministry of Health of the Province. 46% of the city is without primary health care.</span></p>
The situation of children in Tartagal is serious. A few weeks ago, the head of service Primary Health Care hospital Tartagal, Silvana Lopez, reported that "the hospital Juan Domingo Peron there are 193 boys underweight, of which 150 are diagnosed with malnutrition."
In this situation it is added that "ten out of every hundred children receive care" in that hospital, according to a report of the Audit of the Province evaluating the health center management during 2013.
The hospital performs a daily record of shifts that do not occur. During 2012 "rejected total visits was 19,363 of which 1928 were for Pediatrics". 2013 data were not provided to the audit team.
Pediatric referrals doubled compared to 2012: they went from 271 to 425 because "there was not enough staff to treat them."
Moreover, the report notes that "the Service Intensive Care Unit of Pediatrics did not work throughout 2013 for not having specialized doctor." For that year, "the service had 13 doctors, 18 nurses, eight maids". For lack of anesthetists "there was scheduled surgeries that could not be done."
With regard to infant mortality there is a fact that alarms. The number "reported by the Hospital for 2013 was 11.6 ‰" that is more than 11 children per thousand births However, "the provincial Ministry of Health reported a 18.14%" much higher than the provincial average which is around of the 14 ‰.
In addition, the report argues that the five pediatricians who perform guards "exceed the maximum 120 hours of work under existing legislation." The watchdog noted that they work an average 144 hours.
The Operational Area Tartagal is composed of the hospital, five health centers ten health posts and a permanent position Pacará Mission. However, "two health posts and six medics were out of operation."
Of the 115 sectors in which it is divided the primary health sector, "there are 53 that are not covered, representing a 46%".
Between January and November 2013, the hospital delivered 50.000 kilos of milk. Until April, "there is data in the nutritional status of beneficiaries, however, from May that information was suppressed," preventing developing indicators to assess the Five-Year Health Plan under which the milk delivered.
For the audited period was estimated that delivery should cover 84% of children under one year old and 74% of those between one year and five. However, "the coverage reached only 50%."
Finally, the report of the Auditor General of Salta, which was approved in 2015, warns problems in building infrastructure. Pediatric outpatient clinics, for example, "do not have individual health."
The nursing sector Hospitalization Service does not process used elements and has a reservoir for storing common or path biological waste.
On the Pediatrics, the auditors found that "they do not have a safety studio building,"showing that "they do not have an emergency plan or plans of facilities, or in case of emergency, nor have escape routes, cutting boards or keys or gas energy" among other issues.