This was stated by the minister of the portfolio, Cristina Lustemberg, who visited the territory and offered data to the press.

“Last year, the preliminary numbers of infant mortality in the department are again extremely high. Twelve children died, babies under one year old,” Lustemberg said.

He noted that the infant mortality rate was 10,3 per 1,000 live births when the national average was 6,5.

Lustemberg emphasized the need for improved cross-border healthcare coordination with Brazil, with whom Rivera shares a border, within an existing international cooperation framework involving the Foreign Ministry, Public Health, and ASSE.

“Our country has to improve coordination with neighboring countries,” he said and sustained that better use should be made of resources on both sides of the border.

He also called to strengthen the National Integrated Health System through complementation agreements between ASSE and private providers.

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