Cuba updates
Hurricane relief
While the developed countries failed to provide adequate assistance to hurricane-devastated Nicaragua and Honduras, Cuba has more than obliged.
Cuba sent medical brigades to Nicaragua, made up of general practitioners, epidemiologists and nurses who worked in those zones most threatened by the outbreak of epidemics. The brigades stretched as far as the Honduran region of La Mosquitia, a place no western brigade reached. Here, Cuban doctors are assisting a population of 55,000 mostly indigenous inhabitants.
From the day hurricane Mitch hit, Cuba began sending large shipments of medicines. It also sent a shipment of the Cuban product Biorat, an effective eliminator of rodents, which carry the disease leptospirosis.
Health action
Specialists from the Cuban Public Health Ministry returned to Cuba on November 23 after a meeting in Haiti to review the Caribbean nation's health needs. This followed earlier meetings in Mexico between Cuban and Central American health officials concerned about the appalling standards of health in the region.
Cuba recently announced a program designed to help Central American and Caribbean countries' health care delivery. As part of the plan, Cuba is to provide medical training and expertise, while Mexico and other countries in the region that are willing contribute finances.
The Cuban plan aims to export medical and bio-technical training along with the Cuban doctors and medicines sent to help address the most urgent health needs.
[Compiled by Deepa Fernandez from information supplied by Radio Havana, <rhc@radiohc.org> or <http://www.radiohc.org>.]