Cuban doctors say their goal is to improve people's health

Criado em 02/10/13 11h17 e atualizado em 03/10/13 13h18
Por Marcelo Brandão Edição:s Fonte:Agência Brasil

Brasília – After disembarking early in the morning this Wednesday (October 2), in Brasília, the Cuban doctors said that their purpose in coming to Brazil is a humanitarian one and that they intends to help improve the health of the population.

“I think working in underserved areas is a great experience for all of us. It's absolutely beautiful to help everyone who needs our help and our work,” said doctor Roxana Galliardo.

“I hope to help the Brazilian people improve their health. My experience covers 20 years and I've worked in other countries, like Venezuela and Paraguay, in very impoverished areas,” Ramon Flore emphasized.

Carrying flags of Brazil and the Workers' Party (“PT”, the political party to which the current president belongs), a small group of people were waiting to greet the 250 doctors, who arrived around 1 a.m. Doctor Lázara López also stated that she has come to Brazil to make a contribution. Having moved to Brazil to earn 40-50% out of the total $4,520 allocated by the Brazilian government, Lázara goes not make comparisons between working in Cuba and in Brazil. “It's not a matter of whether or not it's profitable for us. We do this for the sake of solidarity.”

By the end of the week, 2,000 Cuban doctors will have arrived in Brazil. On Monday (October 7), these professionals will take a 3-week course on public health care and the Portuguese language. Besides the 2,000 Cubans, 149 other doctors who graduated from a foreign university and who were selected to take part in the second stage of the More Doctors program are to take the course as well, starting next Monday. Classes will be held in the Federal District, Fortaleza, Vitória and Espírito Santo. After the course, they will go to the municipalities assigned to them.

In the first stage of the More Doctors program, 400 Cuban doctors arrived in Brazil and had to take a course in which they were trained and evaluated. The Ministry of Health expects to bring to the country 4,000 Cuban doctors up to the end of the year. These health-care professionals are brought to Brazil through an agreement mediated by the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and, for this reason, do not need to have their foreign diplomas revalidated. They will hold a temporary registration valid for three years that is exclusive to the location assigned by the program.

(with the collaboration of Yara Aquino)

Editors: Graça Adjuto / Olga Bardawil
Translators: Fabrício Ferreira