Ukraine Thanks Cuba For Chernobyl Children Care

[Say_What]

<clips>

Cuba has treated 18,153 children victims of the radiation fallout from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, Ukraine's Health Minister Nykola Polischuk said on Tuesday.

For 15 years, children from Chernobyl have traveled to Cuba to be treated free of cost by Cuban doctors at the beach resort of Tarara, on the eastern outskirts of Havana.

The pale, sometimes bald, strikingly beautiful children can often be seen playing joyfully on the beach and splashing in the warm Caribbean sea.

They have been treated for cancers, kidney and thyroid ailments, digestive and nervous disorders, and the loss of hair and skin pigmentation.

"At a difficult moment for the people of Ukraine, Cuba was one of the first to extend a helping hand with health care for the children," Polischuk said at a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the Cuban program.

http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30132/story.htm

[solinvictus]

1. Wow!

I'm not a Castro fan at all, but I can't ignore this humanitarian effort. Good job, Fidel.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

2. Great work Cuba

I'm proud of them for treating those 18,153 children. No small task that.

:toast:

[CottonBear]

4. 18,153 children.? Radiation illness?

:cry:

Cuba is doing great work to take care of these victims of the cold war.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. If you're not familiar with Chernobyl Children’s Project International Inc

Here's a link for you to read. This is the group that was featured in Chernobyl Heart on HBO.

http://www.ccp-intl.org/

The conditions there are beyond what most could imagine. It's been almost 20 years of pure suffering since the Chernobyl disaster.

[CottonBear]

7. Thank you. I knew it was an awful medical tragedy

but those numbers just got to me. Those children and their families have suffered so much. :cry:

[Say_What]

22. Cuba’s Jewel of Tropical Medicine---and what Cuba has committed to Haiti

An article about Cuba's healthcare research and another about its contribution of solidarity to Haiti. We will never read about this in USSA's MSM.

<clips>

The Pedro Kourí Institute, founded in 1937, has evolved into a world-class player in the global fight against tropical and infectious diseases.

A turnoff at kilometer 6 of Havana’s Novia del Mediodía ("Noontime Bride") highway leads through the gates of the Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK), one of Cuba’s institutional crown jewels. Inside the modern 10-building complex, the island’s top medical scientists carry out research in more than a dozen fields, from biotechnology to treatment of HIV/AIDS.

In his office, the institute’s director, Gustavo P. Kourí, receives a visitor with a smile that brightens his chiseled face. On the wall behind him are myriad international and national commendations received by him and his institute over the years, including his most recent prized possession, a medal from the Vatican.

Kourí wears his white lab jacket like a family coat of arms. Continuing the work of his father, the late Pedro Kourí, he has transformed the 66-year-old institute into not only Cuba’s leading research and treatment center in tropical medicine and infectious diseases, but also a leading player in these fields worldwide.

http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/Number17_article4_4.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

<clips>

Salud International to back Cuban internationalist doctors

The medical charity Salud International has decided to campaign to support the Cuban Medical Collaboration Programme in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa after SI was invited by the Cuban Health Workers Union (SNTS) to meet the brigade in Haiti.

The Ernesto Che Guevara Cuban Medical Brigade has been in Haiti since 1999 when hurricane George devastated Haiti and hurricane Mitch destroyed much of Honduras and Nicaragua. More than 60,000 lost their lives and other countries suffered extensive material damage.

Cuba, along with many other countries sent doctors to help the survivors. After a month, most other aid agencies departed, but the Cuban doctors remained, despite the fact that there were no diplomatic relations and a history of hostility. Cuba appealed to the rich countries to send technical and pharmaceutical aid, but this appeal fell on deaf ears.

Cuba decided that it would develop a strategy to save at least 60,000 lives in the region as its contribution of solidarity.

http://www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/cubasi_article.asp?ArticleID=35

[ninkasi]

3. From what I can remember

Cuba has a history of sending medical teams to help others in times of crisis. Helping those kids goes far beyond whatever politics may be involved. Isn't that what a culture that values life does?

[Robbien]

5. Cuba has been helping out in Africa a lot recently

supplying doctors and medical training. A need arises and Cuba sends them. Not just offering "pledges" which never materialize like some Rich Nations prefer doing.

[Frederik]

8. And Venezuela

Providing healthcare in exchange for cheaper oil. Health care is one of the things the Cubans have got right. Their infant mortality rate is lower than that of the US, for instance.

[DELUSIONAL]

13. Cuba exports doctors and medical help -- US exports arms

In the Latin American region & Caribbean Region, Cuba is highly respected because nearly every country down here has been helped by Cuban medical personnel.

Whereas the US is NOT held in very high regard, especially after the attempted coup in Venezuela and constant bullying by the bushies.

After the hurricanes of last summer the US toss a few thousand bucks to various islands -- Cuba does far more.

In other words Cuba is a good neighbor and the US is the rich neighbor who flaunts her wealth but never buys the tickets to charity events from the kids.

[Say_What]

18. More doctors per capita in Cuba than any other country on the planet

Imagine. Embargoed little Cuba as poor as they are has the time, energy, and compassion to help those less fortunate than themselves. Now if only the *free and democratic* USSA could do the same.

:banghead:

[anarchy1999]

9. I keep on telling everyone, Fidel is not the bad guy in this "Cold War"~!

n/t

If I were younger I'd ask to seek refuge there. I'd love to help.

I am hearing Venezuela calling.

[Robbien]

10. Well I am not to sure how good a guy he is

After four decades of fighting off overt and covert aggression against his country and his person, he has to be a little warped.

But yes, not the bad guy we have been told he is.

[Mika]

16. Its not Fidel!! It is the Cuban people who do the good works of Cuba

Please. Focusing on (excoriating or praising) one Cuban (Mr Castro) is a big mistake.

It is Cuban doctors and educators, all citizens of Cuba, who make the amazing accomplishments happen.

Continuing the tunnel vision on Mr Castro is a part of the refusal to recognize that it is the Cuban people who support the Cuban way (Cubañia) and make it happen - NOT just Castro.


Viva Cuba!

Abajo _Bush

[anarchy1999]

25. Absolutely no disagreement from this corner here.

Viva!

[Judi Lynn]

11. This is an illustration of ACTUAL compassion. There is EVIDENCE.

Quite the novel concept, isn't it? Good grief.

From the article:

Communist Cuba began the program in 1990 and kept it going through its own economic meltdown following the collapse of its international sponsor, the Soviet Union.

Figures have never been released for the cost of the program, which Havana says is part of it international solidarity efforts that have sent tens of thousands of Cuban doctors to work in poor Third World countries.

Polischuk praised the quality of Cuba's medical system and its warm climate, which some specialists say has played a psychological role in the recovery of the children.
(snip/)

Those kids will remember the help they received for the rest of their lives.

[cire4]

12. Great! This deserves a kick!!

[Spazito]

14. Is the US the only country that has an embargo on Cuba?

I know Canada doesn't hold the same views on Cuba as the US government does, many Canadians vacation there and love it. It is wonderful of Cuba, imo, to care for those children and to have been doing it for 15 years is awesome.

[Mika]

17. Yes. But the US's Helms-Burton law acts extraterritorially

The US H-B law forces a choice on all manufacturers and suppliers that prevents products from being sold to/in both the US and Cuba. These entities almost always chose the vastly larger US market.

[Spazito]

20. Thanks for this

It explains a lot, I had forgotten about the Helms-Burton law affecting corporations outside of the US re sales to Cuba.

[Say_What]

19. Yes. and for the past 13 years the UN General Assemby has condemned

the US embargo overwhelmingly.

<clips>

The U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted a resolution condemning the U.S. economic embargo against Cuba. The measure was adopted for the 13th consecutive year.

The 191-member General Assembly approved the non-binding resolution by a vote of 179 to four, with one abstention.

Only Israel and two Pacific island nations stood with the United States.

Cuba's foreign minister, Felipe Perez Roque, was on hand for the vote. He received applause from the Assembly after a speech in which he accused the United States of denying food and medicine to Cubans as part of a worldwide genocidal war against his country. He spoke through an interpreter.

"Its acts are clear to the Assembly that the blame lies with it, that the blockade exists, it's hardened day by day, and it's savagely applied, provoking the almost unanimous repudiation of the international community of this policy directed against Cuba," said Mr. Roque.

http://www.voanews.com/english/2004-10-28-voa82.cfm

[Spazito]

24. Thanks for the info

I wasn't aware there had been 13 previous resolutions condemning the US embargo.

[Say_What]

26. 14th coming up this fall :-))

[Vladimir]

15. Welcome to Humanity 101

although its too much to hope that others will be taking notes...

[Say_What]

21. Ditto.... in years to come we will probably see something similar

come out of Venezuela and other LatAm countries.

[burythehatchet]

23. the United States offer

of tummy tucks and collagen injections has not been replied to by most victims.