The extensive mountainous region of Cuba's eastern province of Granma has maintained zero infant mortality rate in under-one-year-old children, since 2002 to date, the National News Agency said.

Devoid of public health before 1959, the territory's mountainous area featured the death of more than one hundred children before to the twelve months of life.

Currently, a fifth part of the around 900,000 inhabitants of the said province live in the mountains, where several assistance units operate, including family doctor and nurse's offices and hospitals, that are assisted by over 300 professionals of the sector.

Granma province closed March with a 4,9 infant mortality rate of under-one-year-old children per 1000 live births, which places it among the lowest achieved in the country.

Contributions to these results come from the primary health care offered to pregnant women, who are guaranteed the prenatal diagnosis on congenital anomalies, affections of the central nervous system, sicklemia and hepatitis B.

In 2003, Cuba reached a 6,3 infant mortality rate per 1000 live births, being the lowest in Latin America, while the U.S. registered 7, as reported the State of the World's Children 2004, published by the UN Fund for that population sector (UNICEF).

Source: National News Agency (AIN) Cubasí Translation Staff