PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti.— More than 95,000 patients
have been treated here to date here by the Cuban
medical brigade since the January 12 earthquake, and
4,500 operations have been performed. However, as
brigade coordinator Carlos Alberto García says, in
looking toward the country’s future, the most
important part begins today with the transfer of
equipment and medical personnel to two new hospitals
in the provinces.
Dr. García explained that one hospital will be
set up in the Port Salut commune and another in
Corail, both at a considerable distance from the
capital.
"The new centers will be in places which have bee
lacking the conditions for health care because of a
shortage of doctors, equipment, running water and
electricity. These institutions will be open not
only during the post-earthquake national emergency
situation, but also will continue to provide
services on an ongoing basis.
"With the two new hospitals and the seven
Comprehensive Diagnostics Centers in various
departments, we are taking the first steps toward
improving the health system in Haiti," the
coordinator stated.
A total of 1,439 Cuban doctors trained on the
island are currently working in Haiti, 637 of them
graduates from the Latin American School of
Medicine. The Cuban medical brigade is providing
services in 134 of the country’s 140 communes.
Translated by Granma International
