400 Cuban doctors attending to
flood victims in Bolivia
A total of 400 Cuban doctors are attending to people
affected by natural disasters associated with the El
Niño meteorological phenomenon in eight departments
of Bolivia. To date the health professionals have
made more than 60,000 consultations free of charge.
Living alongside the thousands of families in
evacuation camps, the Cuban doctors are also
supplying the necessary medicines to confront the
most frequent resultant illnesses, such as diarrhea
and respiratory and dermatological problems. They
are also involved in health education activities to
avert the proliferation of sickness and
epidemiological outbreaks linked to the worsening
floods and the deterioration of hygienic conditions.
Just 12 months ago, on February 2, 2006, the Henry
Reeve Cuban Medical Brigade arrived in Bolivia to
deal with a similar emergency situation due to
torrential rainstorms that affected more than 40,000
families. The brigade, currently composed of 1,771
health professionals, is currently working in 236
municipalities of the country’s nine departments.
During this period, the Cuban government has donated
20 hospitals, 11 ophthalmic centers and a total of
632 tons of medicines and medical supplies to assist
the Bolivian population and improve the health
indices of the poorest sectors, offering their
services completely free.
To date, the Cuban Medical Brigade has attended to
3, 617,434 patients and has saved the lives of 4,642
Bolivians. On the other hand, the Operation Miracle
program has restored or improved the sight of 66,398
people who have undergone surgery in the 11
ophthalmological centers distributed throughout the
country.
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