Cuban Health System Shows Strengths
CUBA, September 22, 2008. Neither before, during or after the two hurricanes that devastated a large portion of the island, was the humanism and strength of Cuba’s Public Health System affected. Medical attention was guaranteed at all health facilities and evacuation shelters including in the most remote parts of the country.
For example, when Gustav hit the Isla de la Juventud, knocking down water tanks and other installations used for dialysis equipment, the 31 patients with kidney diseases were transported to hospitals in the capital city of Havana.
Dr. Hector Conde Rico, an advisor to the Ministry of Public Health on disaster situations, told Granma that a review of the damage caused by the hurricanes shows that three hospitals were significantly damaged: the Comandante Pinares Hospital of San Cristobal, Pinar del Rio; the Heroes de Baire Hospital of the Isla de la Juventud; and the Guillermo Dominguez Hospital in Puerto Padre, Las Tunas.
Hurricane Ike, which began its sweep through the island in the eastern provinces, damaged 355 health facilities in Holguin and 267 in Las Tunas. These included hospitals, polyclinics, birth centers, social assistance units, pharmacies, optometry and dental clinics, hygiene and epidemiology units, blood banks, family doctor’s offices, and warehouses where electro-medicine, and vector control supplies are stored as well as provincial Ministry of Health offices.
The destruction caused by Gustav, and 10 days later by Ike, in Isla de la Juventud (an island located south of Pinar del Rio and Havana Provinces) and Pinar del Rio caused considerable damage to health centers, 109 in Isla de la Juventud and 302 in Pinar del Rio.
Nationwide, the storms caused damage to 1,356 health units.(Cubaminrex- Granma)