Haiti in our hearts

By: Elson Concepcion

Havana, Cuba. - Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, briefed the national and foreign press on the performance of Cuban solidarity with Haiti. 
 
He said Cuban doctors were already in Haiti when the earthquake struck. Before the earthquake, they had already treated 13 million patients; performed 207 000 surgeries, assisted 107 000 childbirths and visited 5 million houses in small Haitian communities. Cuban doctors serve in 127 out of the 137 counties of that nation. 
 
He explained that the first and only medical emergency service that worked in the first hours after the earthquake and for many days later was Cuban. The clinic was organized and operated in the living quarters of our doctors. 
 
Rodriguez Parrilla informed that 35 000 patients had been assisted and 3 000 surgeries have been performed until the dawn of Thursday January 28. Cuban doctors are immunizing the population in a comprehensive medical operation. Right now, 17 surgical teams are working round the clock in 15 hospitals. 
 
The Cuban Minister concluded: “The situation in Haiti was a real shame for humanity long before the earthquake. The catastrophe added to the misery inherited from colonialism, foreign occupation and the looting of natural resources. It further aggravated the critical social situation. 
 
This is a responsibility of governments and the United Nations to reconstruct Haiti. 
 
He indicated that in the case of ALBA and Cuba, the energy would be concentrated first in the emergency, later in rehabilitation and then in the reconstruction of Haitian health care system.”   
 
Minister Bruno Rodriguez answered a few questions for the press. He informed that Cuba has been cooperating with US government regarding the use of Cuban air space for humanitarian operations in Haiti. They have made around 60 flights. It is not the first time this happens, because after the terrorist attacks of September 11, Cuba offered all its airports and opened its air space to US aircrafts. 
 
He indicated that there have been exchanges between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and US Department of State with regard to eventual cooperation in Haiti. 
 
Then he reiterated Cuba´s willingness to cooperate in the field with any country involved in the humanitarian operation for the benefit of Haitians. 

Regarding the migration issue, he informed that the second round of migratory talks between Cuba and the United States is scheduled for next February 19. 
 
In this respect, he pointed out that our country submitted to US government a proposal to negotiate a new migratory agreement and cooperation in the struggle against human trafficking. But he stressed that Washington has not replied to the Cuban agenda.

Translated by: Pedro A. Fanego

( 03.12.2009 10:13 AM )