ALBA and Haitian Government Present Program to Rebuild Sanitary System in Haiti
The member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America (ALBA) and the Haitian government presented on Wednesday to the WHO a comprehensive program to rebuild the sanitary system in Haiti
2010-03-04 | 12:05:19 EST
GENEVA, March 3.— The member countries of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America (ALBA) and the Haitian government presented a comprehensive framework to the World Health Organization (WHO) for rebuilding healthcare infrastructure in Haiti after the devastation caused by the January 12 earthquake.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez presented the initiative to WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, reported Prensa Latina.
A few hours earlier, Rodriguez presented a documentary on the Cuban medical aid being provided in Haiti to a group of ambassadors, diplomats and representatives of non-governmental organizations.
The Cuban Foreign minister noted that before the earthquake hit, Cuba already had a medical brigade in Haiti, which was substantially increased after the disaster to reach its current size of 1,600 healthcare professionals. The majority of the Cuban healthcare specialists in Haiti are graduates or students from the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) of Havana and are currently working at 15 hospitals. An additional 30 hospitals are currently being set up with Venezuelan cooperation.
In addition, during his recent visit to Havana, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that his country will build 20 primary care hospitals.
Included in the documentary presented at the UN, were interviews with young ELAM graduates and students from Chile, Mexico, Bolivia, Haiti, Guatemala, Colombia and the United States who praised the Cuban initiative of creating the Henry Reeve medical brigade that is working in Haiti. Several visibly moved students quote Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro who once told the students that they would be the Army of White Gowns, a movement of genuine international solidarity.
The Henry Reeve Emergency Medical Brigade is an international contingent of doctors specialized in disaster situations and epidemics that can become operational in 24 hour to respond anywhere that natural or other disasters occur. The brigade was founded in August 2005 and has worked in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Peru, Pakistan, Bolivia, Haiti, El Salvador, and Chile.
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) is an international cooperation mechanism based upon the idea of social, political, and economic integration between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez presented the initiative to WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, reported Prensa Latina.
A few hours earlier, Rodriguez presented a documentary on the Cuban medical aid being provided in Haiti to a group of ambassadors, diplomats and representatives of non-governmental organizations.
The Cuban Foreign minister noted that before the earthquake hit, Cuba already had a medical brigade in Haiti, which was substantially increased after the disaster to reach its current size of 1,600 healthcare professionals. The majority of the Cuban healthcare specialists in Haiti are graduates or students from the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) of Havana and are currently working at 15 hospitals. An additional 30 hospitals are currently being set up with Venezuelan cooperation.
In addition, during his recent visit to Havana, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that his country will build 20 primary care hospitals.
Included in the documentary presented at the UN, were interviews with young ELAM graduates and students from Chile, Mexico, Bolivia, Haiti, Guatemala, Colombia and the United States who praised the Cuban initiative of creating the Henry Reeve medical brigade that is working in Haiti. Several visibly moved students quote Cuban Revolution leader Fidel Castro who once told the students that they would be the Army of White Gowns, a movement of genuine international solidarity.
The Henry Reeve Emergency Medical Brigade is an international contingent of doctors specialized in disaster situations and epidemics that can become operational in 24 hour to respond anywhere that natural or other disasters occur. The brigade was founded in August 2005 and has worked in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Peru, Pakistan, Bolivia, Haiti, El Salvador, and Chile.
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) is an international cooperation mechanism based upon the idea of social, political, and economic integration between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean.
