The Hospital General Miguel H. Alcívar in Bahía de Caráquez successfully performed a complex surgery on a 29-day-old baby, according to a March 17 announcement. The procedure was carried out as part of efforts by the Government of Nuevo Ecuador and Vice President María José Pinto to strengthen public health services.
The case involved an infant from the canton of Sucre who was admitted with persistent projectile vomiting, which put his nutritional status at serious risk. After technical evaluation and imaging studies, specialists diagnosed hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, a condition that blocks food from passing into the intestine and requires immediate surgical intervention.
Randy Mendoza, pediatric surgeon at the hospital, led the pyloromyotomy procedure, which lasted about an hour. “Thanks to timely intervention, the patient was able to gradually resume feeding and recovered well under post-surgical observation,” Mendoza said.
The Ministry of Public Health provided this high-complexity service free of charge, covering all medical expenses that would have exceeded $3,500 in private care. Mayerlin Lucas, mother of the child, said she appreciated the warmth of the staff and noted that prompt attention helped her son recover. She added: “We were kept informed at all times, giving us the peace of mind we needed.”
Carlos Cevallos, medical manager of the hospital, said these results are due to management focused on equipment upgrades and professional development for staff. He said early diagnosis and specialized treatment help protect children’s development and ensure comprehensive care in public health facilities.
With these actions, Hospital Miguel H. Alcívar is positioning itself as an efficient and humane reference point for public health in Manabí province.
