CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Work of Cuban Physicians In Haiti Extolled.

CUBA, 28 April 2011.- The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) representative in the Dominican Republic, Dr. Lilian Reneau-Vernon, described as outstanding the work of the Cuban Medical Brigade (BMC) in Haiti, in it struggle against cholera.

In a workshop on the epidemic, held at the Quinto Centenario Intercontinental Hotel of Santo Domingo, the official stated that 1, 200 Cuban physicians are currently offering their services and their solidarity in Haiti and live in some of the country’s most isolated communities.

The work of the BMC, which first looked after the victims of the January 2010 earthquake and later joined the struggle against cholera, was recently acknowledged with the highest award conferred by the Haitian government, received from the hands of outgoing President Rene Preval, the Prensa Latina news agency reported.

Organized by the Dominican Health Ministry, with the support of the PAHO and the United Nations Children’s Fund, the workshop has two special guests: Jocelyn Pierre Louis, from the Haitian Health Ministry, and Lorenzo Somarriba, head of the BMC in that impoverished nation.

During the workshop, Dr. Somarriba, also Cuba’s Health Deputy Minister, will give a lecture on lessons learned in the treatment of cholera patients in Haitian territory.

Pierre-Louis updated participants on the epidemic in his country, which had caused over 4,700 deaths and affected 261,985 patients until March 15.

He pointed out that, in spite of advances made in the struggle for its elimination, there’s still a lot to do in terms of prevention, above all due to the lack of drinking water in many rural communities.

Dominican Health Minister Bautista Rojas highlighted the significance of this meeting that will end on Thursday, adding that it’s an opportunity to exchange experiences and devise plans to control the epidemic in the two nations sharing the island of La Española.

Also on Wednesday, Rojas championed the increase of cooperation and the exchange of experiences, and cited as an example the many things that need to be learned from Cuba’s work and solidarity in Haiti. (Cubaminrex-ACN)

 

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