“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
