Pakistani
earthquake victims in Cuba
• Initial contingent of Cuban
doctors return
BY JUVENAL BALAN—Granma
daily special correspondent—
A small group of six children, two young women
and six men, victims of the earthquake last October
in Pakistan, arrived in Cuba aboard a Cubana
Aviation IL-62 in order to be fitted with prostheses
and complete their rehabilitation treatment that
began in Cuban field hospitals located in the area
of the disaster in the north of the country.
|
14
victims of the devastating
earthquake last October 8 are to
receive prostheses in Cuba.
The
Cuban doctors in Balakot made
history by climbing mountains,
backpacks on their shoulders to
bring health and life to those in
need. Now they are returning home
with their duty done. |
Work is also underway on setting up a specialized
workshop in a Cuban medical mission in Abbottabad to
increase the number of beneficiaries.
Currently, 80-plus patients are being
rehabilitated with the help of a multi-disciplinary
group of orthopedics, psychologists and
psychiatrists and physiotherapists.
Aboard the same plane were also the first 74
members of the Henry Reeve International Contingent
who arrived in Pakistan eight days after the
disaster to offer their solidarity aid.
There were hugs, hand squeezes and tears in the
eyes of many of the Pakistani drivers who, with the
doctors Miranda and Reemberto, supplied the hospital
under terrible weather conditions.
Alfredo and his general medicine specialists who,
defying danger, khaki backpacks on their shoulders
filled with medicines, reached the mountainous area
of Balakot to attend to victims just a few days
after the disaster. The Pakistani soldiers in the
region still recall with admiration the bravery,
integrity, and love of the white-coated women.
Also back are Mario and his brigade, who started
working in the military hospitals of Rawalpindi and
ended their mission in Attar Shisha, where they left
a trail of affection and love among the population
that received their services. There was Miriam from
Ciego de Avila, who attended more than one birth and
already has a newborn baby named after her.
Now Almanza, Gerardo and Amaury are climbing the
steps to the aircraft. A few minutes earlier Juan
Carlos and Janielka had re-descended them, proud of
their participation in the World Social Forum in
Venezuela. All of them belong to the same collective
that also commenced its labors in the Rawalpindi
hospitals, continued them in Hattian Bala working
miracles in emergency operations with the essential
equipment and concluded by raising on high the name
of the Cuban field hospital in Muzaffarabad.
