Cuban doctors make crucial contribution to Venezuela

Cuba has made a noticeable contribution to Venezuela, particularly in the area of health over the past 15 years, said Doctor Luis Estruch, professor at the Havana-based Latin American School of Medicine.

In statements to the Cuban News Agency, the doctor said that the Havana institution has graduated over 1 thousand medical doctors since it was founded by Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro.

Meanwhile, some 150 thousand Cuban health professionals have given their support to the Venezuelan people, an action considered the largest Cuban cooperation initiative after that carried out in Africa, said Estruch.

Venezuela has improved its infant mortality and other indicators, and ranks among the seven countries in The Americas with the best expectancy of life, now at 74 years.

Thanks to a 15-vaccine-based immunization program, the country has eliminated transmissible diseases. And the future Venezuelan doctors are being formed by Cubans with a total graduation there of 18 thousand medical community doctors, while another 30 thousand are currently taking courses.

Doctor Estruch said that some 50 thousand Venezuelan doctors will be ready in the next two or three years, thanks to the Cuban programs implemented by the island´s specialists in Venezuelan facilities with the Barrio Adentro healthcare community mission.

This will be the major contribution by Cuba: a the community doctors focusing on the poor and based on preventive medicine. We must be proud of what the Bolivarian Revolution is doing and of the role by the Cuban medical mission there, Doctor Estruch noted.

Venezuela counts on 7 800 neighborhood health centers for a population of 30 million people, plus five million Colombians.