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O U R A M E R I C A |
Havana. November
22, 2013 |
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Fruitful medical
collaboration between Cuba and Jamaica
Sinay Céspedes Moreno
CUBAN medical support in Jamaica has
a future and is sustainable, the latest results
show, said María Caridad Carbó, head of the Cuban
health brigade in Jamaica.
 Dr.
Carbó commented that the collaborative program began
in the 1980’s and has become firmly established
within the country. There are currently 153
personnel working in healthcare centers divided into
two sectors: compensated technical or primary care
and the Operation Miracle ophthalmological program,
she explained.
There are 360 healthcare centers in
Jamaica, with Cubans working in all of the country’s
23 public hospitals. Comprehensive family doctors,
intensive care nurses, operating room
specialists,
ophthalmologists, obstetric and pediatric personnel,
and neonatologists are all incorporated into the
Jamaican healthcare system.
One of the Jamaican government’s
main objectives is to reform its primary healthcare
system; and this is the role of the Cuban personnel,
filling the need in this sector, because despite a
high number of Jamaican medical graduates, many
emigrate to
developed countries.
Carbó stated that hypertension, diabetes mellitus
and sexually transmitted diseases
are among the main
illnesses treated by the Cuban brigade, adding that
the specialists are offering
Jamaican health workers
and people their experience and training.
This collaboration has produced new
ideas. Doctors have begun to develop senior citizens’
community centers, dedicated to improving the health
and quality of life of older adults and have already
put into practice a program to control chronic non-communicable
diseases; focusing on physical exercise and health
education.
The specialist also spoke about
Operation Miracle, through which Cuban doctors
provide surgery to low income Jamaicans to restore
their sight, damaged by diseases such as pterygium
and cataracts.
Since 2010 two Cuban brigades have
worked in Kingston’s Ophthalmology Center, where
they have performed more than 5,000 operations, over
2,000 since 2012, she noted.
In accordance with the program’s
timeline, survey consultations have been made
available in
every region, enabling
patients to be examined
and - if neccesary – sent to the capital for surgery
and a postoperative review before being discharged.
In her opinion, this program is a
profoundly humane undertaking which gives
opportunities to everyone, especially the
dispossessed and those who live in remote areas. In
regards to working with Jamaican personnel, she
stated that relations are good and based on mutual
respect.
Furthermore, she commented that the
Jamaican people have welcomed the program and
patients greatly value the Cuban doctors and nurses.
She announced the expected arrival
of a new group of specialists this month, among them dentists
and pathologists, who are
much needed due to the
lack of specialists of this kind in Jamaica. The
pathologists will be working in the National
Laboratory, specifically on the cancer program.
Finally, she stated that Cuba's
medical collaboration with Jamaica will continue,
because of the solidarity and the strong ties that
have united both countries for many years. •
Recently, members of the Cuban
health brigade working in Montego Bay, the second
most important city in Jamaica, met informally with
Alfredo Lopez, Cuban Minister for Energy and Mines.
López, who had traveled to the tourist resort to
attend the 2nd meeting of Energy Ministers from the
Community of
Latin American and
Caribbean States (CELAC), updated them on issues of
interest whilst they recounted significant anecdotes
of their stay in Jamaica. (Orbe) •
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