(PULL QUOTE) “Our perspectives are to continue our collaboration fulfilling in this way with the agreement between the two countries and this will last while the Government of Guyana needs our cooperation. And to work with the Guyanese Ministry of Health in implementing the health strategies 2020, to continue the quality in the pre and post graduate formation and consolidate the historical bonds between the two countries.”-Ambassador Marchante
THE Cuban Medical Brigade to Guyana yesterday held its 10th Scientific Conference at the Grand Coastal Hotel Boardroom, East Coast Demerara. Head of the Cuban medical Brigade, Dr. Midalys Otero Hernandez expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of Health for their cooperation and their professionalism as the Brigade aims to continue improving the health condition of the people of Guyana. She noted that the Brigade is comprised of 166 specialists 74 of whom are doctors, 35 are registered nurses and the remaining are specialists in health technologies. She further explained that services are offered by the Brigade in 10 facilities countrywide where last year they had some 440,660 consultations. Apart from health care the Brigade is also involved in the teaching process.
Health Minister, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran noted that the relations between the two countries for decades have been fruitful, adding that Guyana has benefited particularly from medical training and services from Cuba. He said many years ago the Cuban Brigade was the backbone at the primary health-care specialist level in the main hospitals in the country. However, this has changed due to Cuba’s assistance in teaching medical Guyanese practitioners and helping them to become graduate doctors. Cuba has aided Guyana to become self- sufficient.
“We’re happy that coming out of the efforts we have been able to, over the years, duly and correctly register several hundred young Guyanese as doctors. At first it was only about five Guyanese but now we can have almost 500,” Ramsaran explained. He also emphasised that “it’s not sufficient for us only to have doctors at the graduate level we now have to train them to be specialists” since Guyana rely heavily on specialists from other countries.
Dr. Ramsaran also indicated that presently a lot of efforts are being place in the mental health and disability sector. The two Governments he explained have been working together for the past 18 months to create a Centre to conduct training in disability. The centre will also benefit nationals from the Caribbean who will be able to access training in this said area.
Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Julio Cesar Gonzalez Marchante said he is very encouraged and motivated after the kind words from the Minister of Health, and he is assured that the Brigade’s presence here in Guyana is doing a good job. He stated that his country’s motivation has always been to share professional experiences in health and one of the main necessities of persons in any country is to receive proper health care.
“Our perspectives are to continue our collaboration fulfilling in this way with the agreement between the two countries and this will last while the Government of Guyana needs our cooperation. And to work with the Guyanese Ministry of Health in implementing the health strategies 2020, to continue the quality in the pre and post graduate formation and consolidate the historical bonds between the two countries,” Ambassador Marchante related.
He concluded by congratulating his Cuban counterparts on a professional and thorough job they have been doing and to continue to do your job in all sectors of the population, without making any kind of distinction due to race, ideology or religion beliefs, also without getting involved in political matters, respecting the laws and traditions of the Guyana.
On May 23 1963 the first Cuban Medical Brigade was sent to the Republic of Argelia to fulfill an international mission comprising of 55 collaborators, 29 of them were doctors, this was the Cuban Medical Collaboration official start with permanent brigades aboard.
Guyana has been receiving Cuban Medical personnel since 1978 where the Cubans have provided health care and services to Guyanese at home and to those who have travelled to Cuba for specialist treatment at little or no cost. Guyana has benefited from more than hundreds of scholarships with the majority being in medicine.
Also Guyana has the largest contingent of scholarship students from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) studying in Cuba. The Operation Milagro Programme and the three Diagnostic Centers in different regions of Guyana perhaps best illustrate the value of the relationship.
By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally