V Assembly of Caribbean People

Friday 6^th August, 2010

Workshop C- To Promote Health Security in Region

Chairperson- Elpedia Moreno Fernandez (Cuba)

Rapporteur- Umoja Rock

Major findings of facts, problems or issues:

· Cuba is always in a position to offer solidarity to all sisters and brothers in the Caribbean, primarily via government to government arrangements and medical colleges.

· Though not a rich country, it is willing to share via medical cooperation so as not to have child dying for lack in the “third world”.

· We need the political will of Caribbean governments to exercise in public health facilities, and not private ones.

· Persons can’t get accreditation to practice medicine in their own countries after training in Cuba, so they go where it can be achieved.

· Discrimination in the accreditation process.

· Lack of commercial exchange of different pharmaceutical products that we need, requires government and local authority action.

· Brain drain

· Lack of independent research

· New illness in Trinidad and Tobago that children are suffering e.g. Aplastic Anemia (a bone marrow disease) cost of care, up to $120,000US.

· The capitalist doctors are challenged by the socialist doctors of Cuba, who work to save lives, not just to make money.

· Where does Cuba get its medication from? Cuba has diverse pharmaceutical products yet as a result of the embargo Cuba still needs products.

· Any products with North America contents, Cuba is not allowed access to these. They will have to pay three times the price for half the amount.

· If another Caribbean attempted to assist but it was discovered that there are north American contents, it may cause problems and Cuba would not permit this.

· The Caribbean has the second highest in new cases in AIDS and women are the highest.

· How can we duplicate what Cuba has in the rest of the region.

· Do we have to become communist?

· How can Cuba help?

Solutions:

· Virtual health library as demonstrated in Brazil to be accessed by doctors and patients.

· Education offered free as charged

· Cuba has many medicines/foods that cure and diminish the effects of diseases such as cancer, anemia, diabetes, AIDS, and they have surgeries for Parkinson’s’ disease and an extensive eye programme.

· Health tourism for those who can pay to buy medicine and save hundreds of thousands to invest.

· Need to advertise Cuba’s bio-medical products and services.

· Lobby the government to address these issues so that we don’t re-invent the wheel

· Reduce the skilled individuals leaving the region

· Cuba’ Women’s Federation ensures that at least one child studies a technical education

· A pool of medical people that we can call on the service the entire Caribbean: the beginning of our heath security

· Assist in funding Cuba’s medical research

· List the medical products made in the Caribbean

· Join Cuban Friendship Association as the contact point for medical access in Cuba

· Cuban Medical Association to meet with Caribbean Medical Association to sort out the accreditation issue with government mediation is necessary.

· Cuba to establish research facilities in the islands with their own expertise

· Have more Caribbean medical people participate in Cuba’s list of yearly medical activities that European and North America medical professionals attend.

· Demand the removal of the blockade

Implementation

1. Strengthen Cuba Friendship Association (ICAP affiliates) to

a. To lobby medical associations of the region (Caribbean Medical Association) to meet with Cuban Medical Association.

b. To lobby governments to access/promote Cuban pharmaceuticals, like Avoprox for diabetes

(Responsible person/organization- Ann Chan Chow/Trinidad and Tobago Friends of Cuba)

2. Lobby to remove the blockade against Cuba, as the entire region is threatened

(Responsible person/organization- Ann Chan Chow/Trinidad and Tobago Friends of Cuba)

3. Prevention Education by the Raw Truth Project (Responsible person-Umoja Rock)

4. Best practice education in health security.