Enrique Sotomayor Maternity Turns 62 Today

62 years ago Guayaquil’s population registered 300,000 inhabitants. In that time 1,170 childbirths, nowdays that number has raised to 2,700 childbirths per month. People from many parts of the city and even from other provinces attend this hospital.

Sometimes the maternity does not charge any or very little costs to patients for certain services, such as incubators and therapies for premature babies. Patients mention that it is a trustable hospital because it counts with all the necessary medical equipment and also a blood bank.

The increasing number of patients has motivated the construction of a new hospital at the North side of the city, next to Roberto Gilbert Elizalde Hospital. Authorities from The Social Security Institute and the Health Ministry have been insisting about the creation of this new building for 2 years.

Luis Hidalgo, Director of this medical center, declared the project is on, the study/plan phase is already over, financial stage is being worked on at the moment; the estimated budget is around $30,000,000. The new maternity will have 440 beds outside the children hospitalizing unit, which is going o be bigger, there will also be an intensive care unit, among other areas. This project has been designed regarding the next 50 years.

Sotomayor maternity Authorities expected the work to begin in December, but due to lack of funds because of the national and international financial crisis, the construction will be delayed. The maternity delivered 27,529 births in 2009 and 15,124 until last August.

Mirna Vargas, Reproduction Biologist, is also hoping for the new maternity to be a reality. She says about 7 women with ovulation problems come seeking help to get pregnant, which is why she would like the creation of an assisted reproduction area(treatment of infertility), in order to perform artificial insimminations and in vitro fecundations.

Meanwhile, new equipment is being implemented, such as a high-resolution ultrasound, urodynamics machine for the diagnosis of female urinary incontinence, breathing equipment for newborns, a laparoscope, ten fetal monitors, pulse oximeters and phototherapy lamps.

Maternity’s anual Budget is $21,000,000, 40% comes from lottery, 3% from State and 57% from automanagement (arrengements to provide attetion to Health Ministry patients). 40% is invested in subsidies. “Sometimes patient costs can be superior to $5000 and the hospital covers 100%” says the Director.

Since 1948 until July of the present year…

1,974,946 Patients have been attended in Enrique Sotomayor maternity.

1,488,673 Childbirths have been delivered during this period.

171,192 Surgeries have been performed.

17,173 Laparoscopies and hysteroscopies have been performed.