Cuba to help establish local nursing school

ONE WEEK after Health Minister John Rahael said the provision of health care in Trinidad and Tobago was being hampered by a shortage of nursing staff, the Cuban Government announced that it will help to establish a Caribbean nursing school to remedy nursing shortages throughout the region.

Speaking in the Senate on Tuesday, Rahael disclosed that out of a total of 3,257 established positions for nurses in TT, only 2,123 were either taken or filled.  The Minister said this shortage “adversely impacted on health care” at several institutions including the Port-of-Spain General Hospital where over the last two years, two maternity wards had to be merged. Rahael said consideration will be made to recruiting more nurses from abroad and efforts are being made to train more nurses locally. Addressing the launch of a photographic exhibition at the National Library yesterday, Cuban Amba-ssador to TT, Felix Rojas said Cuba will offer teachers and technicians “which will be necessary in the creation of a nursing school in the Caribbean, and no less than 30 percent of the total value of diagnostic equipment which is produced in our country.”

Rojas slammed the Medical Professionals Association of TT (MPATT) and all others “who wish to doubt the quality of our medicine and our doctors.” “One of the greatest achievements of the Cuban Revolution, that no one can deny is the high level of achievement in the health care system. The only reason the Cuban doctors help in other developing countries is because of the solidarity that we feel for our brothers and the deep respect that we have for all human beings. This comes from the voluntary will of the Cuban people who despite public obligations, take it upon themselves to leave their homeland and try to help others. Our people have lost their lives in foreign countries doing goodwill but we still give willingly and voluntarily,” he declared.

Rojas reminded local critics that Cuba accounts today for one doctor to every 170 habitants, there are 67 hospitals throughout Cuba, Cuba’s infant mortality rate is 6.2 for every 1,000 live births; and Cuba’s infant population is vaccinated against 13 illnesses, giving each baby a life expectancy of 74 years. The Ambassador added that currently, 4,000 Cuban medical practioners are serving overseas. There are currently 37 Cuban doctors and 45 Cuban nurses in TT who were brought in through an intiative by former Health Minister Colm Imbert to address chronic staff shortages in the local health sector. Rojas also reminded his audience that Cuba has been at the vanguard of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean and is currently offering 1,000 health workers to contribute to these efforts. “The sons of Cuba, noble and selfless Caribbean compatriots are and always will be entirely at your disposal,” he declared.