Dr. Águeda Santana, prominent Ob specialist, dies

July 2, 2021

The Cuban Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology bade farewell on June 28th to Dr. Águeda Santana Martínez, Auxiliary Professor, Master of Sciences, Specialist of 1st and 2nd degrees in Gynecology and Obstetrics and Master Teacher of Colposcopy and the Lower Genital Tract of Latin America, Honorary Member of the Cuban Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

A Medical graduate in 1968, she was Head of the Gynecology and Obstetrics Service on the Isle of Youth, and also held the positions of Deputy Director for Faculty Affairs and Teaching, Head of the Gynecology Service, and member of the Scientific Council of the Maternal and Child Hospital "10 de Octubre", as well as Auxiliary Professor of the Faculty of Medical Sciences "10 de Octubre".

Águeda was also a member of the Advisory Commission of the Rector of the University of Medical Sciences of Havana, President of Examination Boards for Specialists, of teaching categorization and of the Medicine Program in her Faculty and the University.

She headed the National Program for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer and the development of the current standards for early diagnosis and management of this condition in the country, together with colleagues from the Independent Section for Cancer Control of the Ministry of Public Health of the Republic of Cuba.

She presided for decades over the Section of Lower Genital Tract Pathology and Colposcopy of the Cuban Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology and was Technical Head of the Diagnosis and Treatment Group for Cervical Cancer in the Cuban Medical Mission to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

She served on the Academic Committee of the Master's Program in Comprehensive Women's Care. She received National Recognition at the XII Forum of Science and Technology, the distinction of Creator Woman of ANIR-FMC, recognition as Talent of Gold Three Stars and Distinguished Provincial Innovator, and several Certificates as an author of ANIR.

She was decorated with the Medal of International Worker. She also received the Medals for Cuban Education, Manuel "Piti" Fajardo for more than 25 years in the Health Sector, and the Medal "Pepito Tey" for her work as an Educator. Similarly, she was the recipient of the Distinction for the XX Anniversary of the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Havana.

She was awarded the Diploma of the Academy of Sciences of Cuba in recognition of scientific research, obtained Special Prize for the scientific relevance of investigations conducted in the field of cervical cancer, as well as the Medal of Outstanding Achievement from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment for the Collaborative work with CIGB "Impact of the use of Alpha Interferon as a regulator of Human Papillomavirus".

She published numerous scientific works in national and international journals and presented many others at scientific events in the country and abroad.

Among her scientific achievements, she obtained the Main Result of the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Havana as Principal Investigator of CIGB-300 and Hebergel. She was an Advisor in the research of drugs for the treatment of cervical cancer in the country (CIGB 228), and in recent and current Molecular Oncology Projects of the National Science and Technology Program related to the production of new products for Cuban Biotechnology and the Pharmaceutical Industry in this important field.

She was a member of the Association for the Care of Children and Adolescents, Honorary Member of the Ecuadorian Society of Lower Genital Tract Pathology and Colposcopy.

She contributed, from her scientific knowledge and her love and vocation for her profession, to strengthening bonds of scientific friendship with scientific societies from other regions and the continent, having represented Cuban Gynecology and Obstetrics with love, professionalism, dedication and humility in international forums.

From Águeda we are left with her enormous beauty as a noble human being, diligent, hardworking, friendly, her perpetual smile, her example as a tireless, truthful fighter, her tenderness, her steadfastness.

There was no one who knew her who did not immediately admire and love her for her kindness.