Cuba at the Epicenter of Aid to Haiti

Cuba at the Epicenter of Aid to HaitiUnited Nations, Jan 10. -Recognized by the United Nations and the international community but silenced by the mass media, Cuban collaboration with Haiti stands out on the first anniversary of the earthquake that devastated that country.

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At the time of the quake, 400 Cubans were providing their services free of charge in Haiti and 60 more collaborators traveled from Cuba days later, carrying medicine, food, plasma, provisions and other supplies.

The Cuban government immediately authorized U.S. planes carrying aid for Haitians to use its airspace over the eastern part of the island.

Cuba also agreed to carry out joint actions with other countries, such as Venezuela, Norway, Namibia, China, Mexico, Russia and the Dominican Republic.

Cubaâ�Ös collaboration with Haiti began in 1998, when Hurricane George hit this country. Since then, Cuban doctors have seen more than 14 million patients, performed more than 225,000 operations, delivered around 100,000 babies and saved more than 230,000 lives.

Two months after the earthquake, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, presented at the UN the Programme for the Reconstruction and Strengthening of the National Health System in Haiti, prepared by the governments of Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela.

After the quake, a cholera epidemic hit the country in October, and Cuba responded by sending more doctors, health specialists and other staff.

During the most recent UN National Assembly session devoted to the Haitian situation, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon praised the work of the Cuban medical brigade in Haiti to fight cholera.

At present, 1,200 Cuban doctors, nurses and health technicians are working in Haiti, following the arrival of 300 new collaborators that were sent after the cholera outbreak. (Prensa Latina)