Cuban medics begin arriving tomorrow

Cuban doctors, who will begin to arrive tomorrow will be housed at “private accommodations” for two to three weeks while they are being acquainted with TT’s culture and language, Health Minister Colm Imbert said yesterday.

Questioned about the location of accommodations he said: “You’ll find out in due course.” He later said the media is very innovative and can find out this information. Imbert was “not certain” about the cost of accommodating the Cubans but said it was “taken into account in the programme.” Imbert told Newsday that he did not think this question was “too relevant at this point in time.” He said the Ministry had a budget for doctors and nurses however, he did not have the details yesterday.

Speaking to the media after the launch of the Health Services Accreditation Programme, Imbert said the Ministry received “offers” from small hotels and members of the public to accommodate the Cuban doctors and nurses. “We are dispersing the doctors throughout the country so it would be impractical to have them staying in one place such as the hostel in Port-of-Spain,” said Imbert in response to an article in yesterday’s Newsday about the doctors’ quarters at Port-of-Spain General Hospital not being ready for the first batch of doctors. At the last project meeting he attended, July 31 was the targetted deadline set for refurbishing the hostel for the doctors to arrive in August and September.

Imbert said he approved the purchase of furniture for the doctors’ quarters but could not say how much money was being spent. “We continue to search for accommodation; we are using a real estate agent so there will be a mix of public and private accommodation,” said Imbert. It will not be required until August 15. The doctors will have two weeks of orientation to “improve their language skills.” They will also be exposed to TT culture and “medical practices peculiar to TT.” Twenty-five Intensive Care nurses are due to arrive with the doctors and Imbert said two of them would be sent to Sangre Grande Hospital so the Children’s ward could function. He said a 24-hour nursing presence is required and five dedicated nurses were needed. Three local nurses will be “sourced” to work with the Cubans so the ward could be re-opened in the next few weeks.