Dear Editor,
The Cooperative Republic of Guyana will celebrate 50 years of its liberation from colonialism on May 26.
The lands of this country suffered usurpation and spoliation in past centuries by European colonialism. However, the ideals of independence came to be from 1950 and a programme for national independence and social improvements was forged that crystallized in May 1966.
In the half a century since independence, the country has made an effort to transform its impoverished colonial heritage by developing its human and material resources and working for the welfare of its population that does not reach 800 thousand inhabitants. The important natural resourc-es of the country could contribute significantly to raising the standard of living of its inhabitants. In addition, Guyana has promoted compliance with the principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations such as sovereignty and the right to self-determination, peace and international security, as well as integration and support for just causes. In this regard, just to mention a few examples, Guyana defended the international fight against the ignominious apartheid regime, it supports the right of the Palestinian people and condemns the inhumane blockade imposed on Cuba that aims to wipe out its people.
Cuba, country and people, whom I have the privilege to represent, appreciates the opportunity granted by the Guyanese people to contribute to paying its commitment to humanity and with whom it struggled and still struggles for a better world beyond imperial hegemony and new forms of subjugation of some major powers.
Cuban health cooperation
Health cooperation with this sister nation celebrates 40 years of Cuban presence.
In this time of celebration and as homage to those who made and preserved the independence of Guyana, it is worth remembering how the Caribbean island has assisted and accompanied uninterruptedly Guyanese people in the field of health for four decades and will continue to do so for the prosperity of Guyana.
The first Cuban health collaborators arrived in 1976. In coordination with the government, Cuban collaborators have developed healthcare, academic and research work in a manner of solidarity, contributing during four decades to raise life expectancy and the standards of the population.
672 Guyanese doctors have been trained in the Cuban School of Medicine, another 86 doctors will graduate in July, totalling 758. This is a result of a scholarship programme offered by Cuba, and has contributed to the local index of doctors per capita in a significant way and to free health coverage nationwide.
The island also contributed to the creation in the 2000s of four Integral Diagnostic Centres ‒ IDCs ‒ well equipped and located in Essequibo, Leonora, Diamond and Mahaicony, as well as an Ophthalmological Centre in Port Mourant, strengthening the care activities and the network of care facilities for the population.
A Cuban Medical Brigade – CMB ‒ has been working for decades, day by day together with Guyanese health professionals in favour of their people. Today it has 170 collaborators, and out of them, 80 are doctors of different specialities ‒ some of them insufficient or nonexistent in the medical workforce of the country ‒ all located in health centres, IDCs and hospitals in 6 of the 10 Regions of the country. Last year: 423,725 patients were seen in consultations, approximately 52% of the population; 13,886 surgeries were undertaken, about 38 per day; 4,613 child deliveries were successfully performed and the support for mental health was strengthened with psychiatrists, occupational therapists and psychologists, among other things.
On the other hand, efforts have been made to contribute to Students’ Scientific Forums and the Scientific-Pedagogic events developed annually to tackle and find solutions to local health problems. In the last five years there were 113 research results that responded to the health problems of Guyana concerning the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases, diabetes mellitus and hypertension, bronchial asthma, non-communicable, communicable and infectious diseases, suicide and maternal mortality.
Maybe some other time I will have the possibility to provide more statistics and concrete results, but I would like to indicate now that in 2015 the Cuban health collaborators saved 7,309 lives. This meant that without the intervention of Cuban doctors these people could have died. In other words, a daily average of 20 lives were saved in 2015 by Cuban health professionals who work closely with the medical forces of the country.
Since the space required is substantial and friends of the media can give proper disclosure, I have stopped reiterating the willingness and commitment of the Cuban Government and people to continue supporting the Guyanese people in the health sector.
And as a symbol of what we can continue building together, I remember what was announced some time ago, that with the commitment of the Caribbean Community (Caricom), Guyana and Cuba will soon make a reality the creation of a Centre to Stimulate the Development of Children, Adolescents and Young People with Special Educational Needs Associated with Disabilities. This is a humane regional project, for which Cuba will provide technical assistance and will continue to contribute to the welfare of the peoples of the area, in a year when the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Guyana and the 40th anniversary of the uninterrupted Cuban collaboration in the field of health in this country will be held.
Yours faithfully,
Julio César González Marchante
Cuban Ambassador to Guyana