Health Officials Praise Cuban Medical Efforts in Hait

Santo Domingo, Apr 27. -Some 1,200 Cuban physicians live in the most remote areas of Haiti, working in solidarity to eradicate cholera, Lilian Reneau-Vernon, representative of the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), stated in this capital.

During a workshop on experiences in response to the cholera epidemic in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, the PAHO official talked about the outstanding work carried out by the Cuban medical brigade.

First assisting victims of the earthquake and then fighting cholera, the medical brigade was awarded the highest recognition bestowed by the Haitian state, by former President Rene Preval.

The workshop, sponsored by the Dominican Health Ministry and supported by the PAHO and UNICEF, included especial guests such as Dr. Jocelyn Pierre Louis of the Haitian Health Ministry, and Lorenzo Somarriba, head of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Haiti.

Somarriba, who is a Cuban Deputy Health Minister, was expected to speak today on lessons learned in treating cholera in Haiti.

The workshop is being held at the Intercontinental Hotel V Centenario in Santo Domingo, concludes tomorrow with concrete plans such as the creation of health service networks. (Prensa Latina)