Travel

“The moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”       I have jus...
“The moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”       I have just recently returned from a week-long trip to Havana, Cuba. Even though I have been fortunate to legally travel to Cuba many, many times over the past 10 years, each opportunity is embraced with the thrill of being the first. Without exception, I have centered every visit on the Cuban Health System: I have participated in Symposiums; presented at Conferences; and been involved in research on health equity and medical ethics. Put simply, my fascination with the Cuban Health System stems from the similarities of their system, and our system of Medicaid and Medicare, and how Cuba has succeeded at making sure that Health care is a human right rather than a product for economic profit. Therefore, all Cubans have equal access to health services, and all services are free. I have always envied how Cuba is able to provide high quality care to a poor population, with limited financial resources. Yet, the Cuban people enjoy better health outcomes in every category of measure: low infant mortality; low rate of depression and sickness in the elderly; and almost everything in between. My interest was especially based on some of the more glaring similarities between the two countries in regard to this country: Cuba is a poor country with limited resources. Cuba’s population is  diverse, large, and growing older. Poor, underserved, and many people of color in this country suffer disproportionately, have poor health status. The trip was organized by MEDICC (Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba), a non-profit organization working to enhance cooperation between the US, Cuban and global health communities aimed at better health outcomes. I was traveling with a most spectacular group of individuals, selected by MEDICC, from a pool of applicants. To their credit, they could not have assembled a better mix of professionals, perfectly suited to both benefit, and contribute to, the success of the trip. Having traveled last year with a MEDICC delegation looking at Aging and Health in Cuba, this trip, I was a part of an academic research program, looking at Gender and Health in Cuba. The specific purpose was to examine and observe how Cuba is handling diverse gender and sexual populations within the context of its’ healthcare system. Our itinerary included, among other things, presentations and exchanges with researches, scientists, and professionals from the National Center for Sexual Education (CENESEX) at the National School of Public Health (ENSAP); a University Polyclinic; a Junior High School to visit and have exchanges with students and teachers on sexual education, HIV-ITS prevention, a Maternal Care Center for high risk pregnancies. and the Tropical Medicine Institute. It was a personally special treat for me to spend time with Dr. Jorge Perez Avila, director of Cuba’s national AIDS program. Having done presentations, written on, and followed HIV/AIDS work globally Dr. Perez reputation preceded him.  His work and expertise in the field has gained him the respect of his peers worldwide. He is recognized for having destigmatized HIV/AIDS in Cuba. We were treated to a rare opportunity to hear from him a brilliant overview of the current, groundbreaking HIV/AIDS research. Most moving of the experiences was the activity at the Friendship Center with Dr. Alexis Cantero, nurses and members of the Alas por la Vida breast cancer support group. It was here, that the impact of the comprehensive nature of the Cuban Health System was most evident in the lives of the residents on a ground level, community basis. And how could I not mention the students at the Junior High School? I was completely blown away by the demeanor, insightfulness, and the focus of the students. I mean, what do you say about 7th graders asking q
14 minutes ago
Gelato flavour of the day Blueberry quality has gone downhill in Albaniathis one not true to colour or flavourWe had read there were train services between Durres and Tirana 38km away and although they could be unreliable for being on t...
Gelato flavour of the day Blueberry quality has gone downhill in Albaniathis one not true to colour or flavourWe had read there were train services between Durres and Tirana 38km away and although they could be unreliable for being on time they would at least take us to a point in the city that we could get ourselves back to when it was time to head home after some sightseeing.The buses we h
31 minutes ago
So for the first time possibly ever I arrived at the airport with plenty of extra time. It feel nice to be just excited and not excited and in a blind panic. You39ll hear from me again after a day in Paris
So for the first time possibly ever I arrived at the airport with plenty of extra time. It feel nice to be just excited and not excited and in a blind panic. You39ll hear from me again after a day in Paris
31 minutes ago
Without a doubt the easiest way to flatter me while traveling is to mistake me for a local and be sincere about it. I am sure many have an alterior motive anything to strike up a conversation and get me to look at their goods. But when t...
Without a doubt the easiest way to flatter me while traveling is to mistake me for a local and be sincere about it. I am sure many have an alterior motive anything to strike up a conversation and get me to look at their goods. But when they insist when they tell me that I look like their brother Mohammed or Hamed when they speak Arabic and get upset that I can39t answer back then it at le
31 minutes ago
In the last week or so we have pottered around from George39s to Vonitsa Mitikas Episcopi and back to George39s.When the weather forecast is looking bad strong winds and rain which is forecast for the next day or so we often head to Geo...
In the last week or so we have pottered around from George39s to Vonitsa Mitikas Episcopi and back to George39s.When the weather forecast is looking bad strong winds and rain which is forecast for the next day or so we often head to George39s Karnagio because he has good shelter lazy lines which means you don39t have to rely on your anchor and the facilities are great. There
31 minutes ago
The Hard Rock Hotel Chicago recently introduced the Nursing Mothers Amenity Program, providing guests with hospital-grade breast pumps, mini-refrigerators and bra pads.
The Hard Rock Hotel Chicago recently introduced the Nursing Mothers Amenity Program, providing guests with hospital-grade breast pumps, mini-refrigerators and bra pads.
42 minutes ago
Right now at York Photo new customers can get a Custom Travel Mug for just $4 (reg $16.99)!  Just use promo code HOTDRINK during checkout to get this deal.  Plus you can snag 40 FREE 4×6 prints when you register for a new account. Shippi...
Right now at York Photo new customers can get a Custom Travel Mug for just $4 (reg $16.99)!  Just use promo code HOTDRINK during checkout to get this deal.  Plus you can snag 40 FREE 4×6 prints when you register for a new account. Shipping for one mug starts at $5.99.  Here’s how to get this deal: New Customers visit York Photo. Click the orange "Go!" button to get started. Browse their designs or create your own. Create your custom travel mug. Upload your photos and create 40 prints. "Approve and Order" to proceed to checkout. Use promo code HOTDRINK during checkout. Your credit for your FREE prints will be automatic. This offer expires 6/8. Custom Travel Mug $4 from York Photo was first posted on May 23, 2013 at 12:30 pm. ©2008-12 Deal Seeking Mom™. All rights reserved. Use of this feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at admin@dealseekingmom.com.
about 1 hour ago
In my role at the United Nations Population Fund, I have the privilege to travel to urban, rural and remote locations to see the range of efforts being made so that every woman might give birth safely and in dignity, supported by midwive...
In my role at the United Nations Population Fund, I have the privilege to travel to urban, rural and remote locations to see the range of efforts being made so that every woman might give birth safely and in dignity, supported by midwives or other skilled attendants. But in many countries, a safe labor and delivery for mother and child is still a lottery -- a roll of the dice. When services are not available, when skilled birth attendants are not in reach, when information is not provided or distance or poverty or discrimination or isolation means a pregnant woman is without access to support, the consequences can be grave, indeed.One encounter I had with a young girl in Nigeria truly brought home why services to assist pregnant women, and to help women recover when pregnancy brings injury, are so essential. On this occasion, I had the privilege of being shown around a medical facility where women suffering from obstetric fistula are treated. Thanks to transformation enabled through funds from the UNFPA's "Campaign to End Fistula" -- in association with partners such as Johnson & Johnson -- this facility has what is needed to repair and further assist victims of obstetric fistula.More...
about 1 hour ago
Over at Ancestors in Aprons, I’m trying to track down houses in New York where my Great Uncle lived during the Gilded Age. That got me thinking about my own trips to NYC, and I thought I’d devote Travel Photo Thursday to a fe...
Over at Ancestors in Aprons, I’m trying to track down houses in New York where my Great Uncle lived during the Gilded Age. That got me thinking about my own trips to NYC, and I thought I’d devote Travel Photo Thursday to a few shots of New York. Some of these are repeats that I have used in other articles, but I can’t help it. I like them. So there. Liberty from Ellis Island Museum, New York City New York Skyline from Liberty Island on a rainy day A.P. Building, Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan Break Dancers in front of Metropolitan Museum Central Park Boathouse Restaurant, Central Park Cheesecake Heaven I have had a long love affair with NYC, and as I write about my ancestors over at Ancestors in Aprons, I wonder if I didn’t grow up idealizing their life in New York and yearning to recreate it. This has been my contribution to Travel Photo Thursday. For more travel photos, go to Budget Traveler’s Sandbox, where it all started (TPT, that is.) All of these photos are my property, whether they are watermarked or not. If you want to reuse them, be aware that they belong to me, but if you make a request, we can usually work something out. Original article: Travel to NYC for Travel Photo Thursday©2013 A Traveler's Library. All Rights Reserved.The post Travel to NYC for Travel Photo Thursday appeared first on A Traveler's Library.
about 1 hour ago
An "aptonym" is a name that's perfectly suited for the person who has it. It's apt. We've come up with the 11 best ones in the finance industry, ART CASHIN: DIRECTOR OF FLOOR OPERATIONS, UBS You can't have a better name of a veteran trad...
An "aptonym" is a name that's perfectly suited for the person who has it. It's apt. We've come up with the 11 best ones in the finance industry, ART CASHIN: DIRECTOR OF FLOOR OPERATIONS, UBS You can't have a better name of a veteran trader than "Cashin." HAMISH RISK: HEAD OF CONTENT MANAGEMENT, DEUTSCHE BANK If your last name is Risk, you have to work in finance. Hamish Risk made the right career move. JENS NORDVIG: MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CURRENCY RESEARCH, NOMURA Jens is of course pronounced "Yens" which is this close to one of the most important currencies in the world. Obviously Jens Nordvig is a perfect fit for this important job at Nomura. PANICOS DEMETRIADES: GOVERNOR, CENTRAL BANK OF CYPRUS Panicos, Cyprus. Too easy. RICH RICCI: HEAD OF INVESTMENT BANK, BARCLAYS Again, too perfect. DAVID DOLLAR: ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL EMISSARY TO CHINA, U.S. TREASURY What better name for someone who has to travel to China, during which currency policy issues inevitably come up? BART HEDGES: CEO, GREENLIGHT CAPITAL RE Greenlight Capital is the reinsurance operation of David Einhorn's hedge fund. This is doubly perfect since there's the hedge fund angle, and since reinsurance is all about hedging risk. NICHOLAS ECONOMIDES: PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY Economides, check. LIBOR STRAKA: FORMER RATES TRADER, JPMORGAN LIBOR for a rates trader? Just beautiful. ZAR AMROLIA: GLOBAL HEAD OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE, DEUTSCHE BANK We don't have a picture of Zar, but ZAR is the three-letter currency code for the South African Rand, which means that like Jens Nordvig he has a name perfectly suited for the area he covers. Can you think of any more? Add them in the comments please. Please follow Clusterstock on Twitter and Facebook.Join the conversation about this story »
about 1 hour ago