Search results for: medical mission

Portugal Has Spent $ 12 Million Euros Since 2009 to Recruit Cuban Doctors / 14ymedio

14YMEDIO, Havana, 19 August 2014 – The Portuguese National Health Service spent about 12 million euros (about $16 million dollars) in the last six years to recruit Cuban doctors, the local newspaper Jornal I reported Tuesday. In June 2009, the Government of the Socialist José Sócrates signed its first agreement with Cuba to address the shortage of … Continue reading “Portugal Has Spent $ 12 Million Euros Since 2009 to Recruit Cuban Doctors / 14ymedio”

What We Don’t Talk About / Regina Coyula

My husband has dengue fever. Or chikunguya, what the difference is can only be known after a long-awaited test. We needed to find our family doctor because he kept going from house to house inquiring of people with fever or other suspicious symptoms. The doctor, after a physical examination and posing a series of questions, … Continue reading “What We Don’t Talk About / Regina Coyula”

There’s No Room, Wait Outside / Julio Cesar Alvarez

HAVANA, Cuba — Doctors working in the clinic located within the gatehouse of Central Havana Children’s Hospital refused medical treatment to a three-month-old infant named Alexander because his parents refused to comply with an internal policy of the hospital. The policy allows only one parent to be present in an exam room. According to the … Continue reading “There’s No Room, Wait Outside / Julio Cesar Alvarez”

“I Always Did What My Conscience Dictated” / Dimas Castellano, Oscar Espinosa Chepe

One of the central figures of the Cuban opposition, who participated in the revolution before its ultimate victory but ended up being sentenced to 20 years in Castro’s prisons, was the independent economist Oscar Espinosa Chepe, who died in Madrid. He recounts his life and ideas in this interview. Born in Cienfuegos on November 29, … Continue reading ““I Always Did What My Conscience Dictated” / Dimas Castellano, Oscar Espinosa Chepe”

What’s Happening Today in Angola? / 14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez

14ymedio, Yoani Sánchez, Havana | June 18, 2014 — He has been in power 35 years, he’s the father of the richest woman in Africa, and he has created in Angola one of the most corrupt regimes in the world. His name is Jose Eduardo dos Santos, and he’s visiting Cuba, which helped him to … Continue reading “What’s Happening Today in Angola? / 14ymedio, Yoani Sanchez”

It Costs / Regina Coyula

All the hospitals I’ve visited lately have put up  some eye-catching posters: “Your health service is free, but it costs.” I’ve seen these relating to ophthalmology, surgery, orthopedics, dentistry, and I recently saw a generic one for the Institutes. Then they enumerated a list of services, from the simplest and least inexpensive to complex procedures … Continue reading “It Costs / Regina Coyula”

Now People Don’t Want the “Chavitos” (CUCs) / Alberto Mendez Castello

Currency speculation has the island on the edge of mental collapse. Monday with which to pay wages is scarce. Peso equivalents to the dollar aren’t sold. Informal money changes want real dollars. Puerto Padre, Cuba — The State Currency Exchange (CADECA) resumed the sale of convertible pesos (CUC) today, after some interrupted for lack of … Continue reading “Now People Don’t Want the “Chavitos” (CUCs) / Alberto Mendez Castello”

The Voices of Cubans? / Miriam Celaya

Arrogance is a personality trait impossible to hide for those who suffer from it. In fact, it becomes more obvious when an arrogant individual tries to cover his proverbial petulance under a cloak of feigned humility. The worst of such a subject, however, is his histrionic ability that allows him to deceive considerable groups of … Continue reading “The Voices of Cubans? / Miriam Celaya”

Desertion by Doctor Ramona Matos Opens a Breach / Osmar Laffita Rojas / HemosOido

HAVANA, Cuba. — The manipulation by the official press has no limits. The report published in the Granma daily on March 17 by journalist Diana Ferreiro carries a grandiose headline: “White Scrubs for a Better World.” In said article, it went so far as to say that the seventh delegation of Cuban doctors that left … Continue reading “Desertion by Doctor Ramona Matos Opens a Breach / Osmar Laffita Rojas / HemosOido”

A Conversation with the Consul General of the United States in Cuba / Ivan Garcia

Timothy P Roche, U.S. Consul General in Cuba The old United States embassy in Havana, today the headquarters of the United States Interest Section (USIS, also known as SINA for its Spanish acronym), is a seven-story building with a surfeit of glass windows located a stone’s throw from the Malecon. Built in 1953 and designed … Continue reading “A Conversation with the Consul General of the United States in Cuba / Ivan Garcia”

The Hard Fate of Those Who Grow Old / Alberto Mendez Castello

PUERTO PADRE, Cuba — Old Raul was a worker for Communal Services, but an unyielding cervical disease at age 54 made the Medical Commission discharge him. Now he is 74 years old and has a pension of 242 pesos, “but I go over 40 just on my wife’s drugs,” he says.  Most of the time … Continue reading “The Hard Fate of Those Who Grow Old / Alberto Mendez Castello”

What Will Happen if Chavism Falls? / Arnaldo Ramos Lauzurique

Some 18 thousand Cuban doctors in Venezuela earn the government 4 billion dollars. And what about the oil? HAVANA, Cuba – The Cuban regime is on tenterhooks about the situation in Venezuela, whose economic support, primarily through payment for medical services and the supply of oil is very advantageous. Currently there are about 18,000 doctors … Continue reading “What Will Happen if Chavism Falls? / Arnaldo Ramos Lauzurique”

Slaves in White Coats / Miriam Celaya

In the nineteenth century, slave crews were rented out after the harvest to other landlords, providing the slaves a few trifles.  HAVANA, Cuba, Feb 12 — The recent “defection” of Cuban doctor Ramona Matos Rodríguez, who provided services in Brazil under an agreement signed between that country and Cuba, part of the program “More Doctors … Continue reading “Slaves in White Coats / Miriam Celaya”

“The psychological torture was intense, permanent. They wanted to erase his mind.” / Lilianne Ruiz

HAVANA, Cuba, December, www.cubanet.org-It was raining heavily in Havana. It was the first day of December and Miriam Leiva had come to Cuba carrying the ashes of her husband and the memories of their almost 40 years together. Oscar Espinosa Chepe had died after a long illness that they shared together like so many things … Continue reading ““The psychological torture was intense, permanent. They wanted to erase his mind.” / Lilianne Ruiz”

Ramon Alejandro Munoz, Sonia Garro’s Husband, Writes to the Daughter of One of the Five Spies

COMBINADO DEL ESTE, 28 November – In Cuba, “Free Territory of America,” there is a population of almost 12 million inhabitants. This entire population suffers terrible disappointments when their family members are taken to prison for fabricated reasons and without any proof; but it turns out that in various newspapers and magazines they have publications … Continue reading “Ramon Alejandro Munoz, Sonia Garro’s Husband, Writes to the Daughter of One of the Five Spies”