Por Eliane Táboas Merino 
Primary health care has had a strength in the family doctor program for almost 40 years thanks to the idea of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro.
Dr. Mariela Romero Pérez, head of the Department of Primary Health Care in the province, explains that the territory has 28 polyclinics in which 646 basic health teams are distributed. Of these, 635 belong directly to the community and the rest are integrated into universities and schools.
The direct link with the community in solving health problems is one of the main challenges for these specialists. The official added that they are trying to rescue and deepen the reproductive health of families, for this they have several projects and carry out activities in schools.
There is a focus on health education and work is being done to improve comprehensive care for families.
Programs such as Maternal and Child, the elderly and arterial hypertension stand out among the priorities at the level of medical offices and polyclinics. Dr. Edelys Pons Barrera, head of the basic work group of the Carlos Verdugo polyclinic, comments that since 2016 the care center has had a cardiovascular risk reduction project through the control of arterial hypertension and secondary prevention.
This Polyclinic was selected due to the high prevalence of arterial hypertension and since then and from its follow-up it has maintained satisfactory results.
The family doctor program created by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro in 1984 identifies the Cuban health system in its intention to bring services closer to the communities and their families.
Translated by Casterman Medina de Leon