Cuban doctors mark 60 years of global health cooperation |22 May 2023

Members of the Cuban medical brigade in Seychelles in a souvenir photograph with Ambassador Caneiro  

By Patrick Joubert

The Cuban medical brigade in Seychelles on Saturday celebrated 60 years of the Republic of Cuba’s health cooperation with the world.

A lunch and other social activities were held at the Cuban embassy, Bel Eau, where some members of the brigade working with the Ministry of Health, joined with the Cuban ambassador to our country, Martha Hernandez Caneiro, and other representatives from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, friends and other invitees, to celebrate the occasion.

Under the leadership of revolutionary leader, President Fidel Castro, Cuba began its first internationalist medical mission on May 23, 1963, where 29 doctors, four stomatologists, 14 nurses and 7 health technicians travelled to Algeria. Since then, the Latin American island country has selflessly provided its services to the neediest populations in all continents across 165 countries in Latin America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

In the 60 years of medical cooperation with the world more than two billion (2,194,430,690) patients have been treated and some 16 million (15,956,629) surgeries have been performed, with eight million lives saved.

A total of 17,053,353 vaccinations were administered and to date the Cuban doctors are currently present in 58 countries with 22,422 collaborators.

In Seychelles, the Cuban medical mission began in 1980 with a small group of four doctors.  Since then to date, more than 500 Cuban doctors and health specialists have rendered their services to our people and the government, contributing in raising the health indicators and standards.

There are currently 39 Cuban doctors working in the country from 71 doctors in 2021. They are offering their services as community doctors, oncologists, haematologists, endocrinologists, urologists, nephrologists, gynaecologists, imaging specialists, neurologists, pathologists, ophthalmologists, psychologists, and paediatricians and community, imaging and forensic specialist doctors.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Caneiro re-affirmed her country’s political will to maintain the health cooperation with our country.

“The more than five hundred Cuban doctors who have worked in these beautiful islands have saved thousands of lives and have contributed to raise the health standards of their population. Under this humanist principle, my government confirms its political will to maintain this cooperation,” she said.

The ambassador noted that mutual understanding, respect, dialogue and cooperation have guided the good relations that exist between Seychelles and Cuba since establishing diplomatic relations 45 years ago.

She stated that under the cooperation more than 30 Seychellois doctors and health specialists have graduated from Cuban medical universities and at the moment 10 others are still pursuing their medical studies.

On behalf of the Cuban government, Ambassador Caneiro thanked all the Cuban doctors for their contributions in the country and in other countries around the world.

Representing the Ministry of Health, the principal medical officer for community health service, Dr Josapha Jouanneau, said that the ministry is grateful for the support of the Cuban medical collaboration which has yielded many fruits, considered to be vital to our health system and to the health of our nation.  

Dr Jouanneau commended the Cuban doctors’ contribution in the primary health care where 25% among them are key actors in helping the ministry to achieve its strategic goal and in the secondary and tertiary care sectors where 30% among them are helping to address complications related to illnesses. He added that the cooperation has also resulted in many Seychellois specialists achieving their career aspirations through studies in Cuba and to treat our people with the knowledge and skills acquired.

He also mentioned that the ministry also recognises the role of Cuban doctors in supporting our health system at the peak of the pandemic. Their presence managed to allow for continuity of essential services while also fighting the virus.

“On behalf of the Ministry of Health, I would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Republic of Cuba, the embassy and the Cuban medical brigade for the support and magnificent collaboration between us,” Dr Jouanneau said.

For his part the head of the Cuban Medical Brigade in the country, Dr Yoannys Muñoz, conveyed his “most sincere” appreciation to all the members of the brigade working in the country, for their contributions, dedication, sacrifice and effort.

Ambassador Caneiro later said that the reason for the reduction in Cuban health practitioners in the country is as a result of sanctions by the United States of America which have impacted on the transfer of money from the local banks here to Cuba.

She noted that while her country is working to seek a solution to the issue, the health cooperation with our country will continue.

Text & photos by Patrick Joubert