New mothers and children’s hospital will take pressure off other IESS health facilities

When it opens later this month, the new Social Security (IESS) Centro Materno Infantil, or mothers and childrens hospital, will offer the best maternity and infant care in Latin America, according to officials. It will also relieve pressure on other IESS health facilities in the Cuenca area, particularly the José Carrasco Social Security Hospital.

New hospital will open later this month. (El Tiempo)

“The Centro Materno Infantil will be a top-level hospital, offering one of the best emergency facilities in the region,” says Esteban Ugalde, Azuay provincial director of IESS. “The facility will not only provide services for mothers and babies, but for entire families.”

Constructed at a cost of $5.7 million in Parroquia Cañaribamba, in southeast Cuenca, the new hospital will offer services in gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, maternity, family medicine, general medicine, psychology, imaging, oral health, nutrition, X-rays and ultrasound, rehabilitation, and language therapy.

According to Ugalde, the hospital will be able to handle an average of 19,000 patient visits per month. “This not only improves care for mothers, infants, and families, but for all members of the IESS health services in the southern Ecuador region.”

The hospital consists of two floors, an interior courtyard, parking, medical and administrative units, and covers of ​​4,130 square meters. It will employee a professional and administrative staff of 100, with other employees splitting their time with José Carrasco Hospital.

Ugalde says that most new staff has been hired but interviews continue in several specialty areas.