The Cuba-Venezuela Comprehensive Health Agreement celebrated its 11th anniversary this week.  Another example of solidarity of the Cuban Revolution in which both countries have worked together to restore health to the Venezuelan people.

On November 30, 2002, the first group of patients of this program arrived in Cuba. Since then, more than 27,000 patients and 20,000 companions have received excellent medical, surgical and rehabilitation treatment.

Dr. Pedro Llerena, director of La Pradera International Health Center and director of the program, said that the patients from this program are treated in La Pradera and in other centers located in several provinces of the country. The program provides medical assistance totally free of charges, something for which they express their eternal gratitude for the program.

Most Venezuelan patients are treated in hospitals in the Cuban capital such as the Hermanos Ameijeiras and Camilo Cienfuegos hospitals, the Juan Manuel Marquez pediatric hospital, the Frank País orthopedic hospital and the Cira Garcia Central Clinic and others 53 health centers scattered nationwide.

Most of the patients of the program have been treated for eye and skin disease, infectious and parasitic diseases, as well as blood and endocrine diseases. Other ailments include tumors in the central nervous system. Other patients have come to receive orthopedic, neurological, and rehabilitation treatment.

The patients come to Cuba to undergone surgery and then they continue their rehabilitation in Venezuela. The staff of those centers has been trained by Cuban health professionals.  The patients go to these centers to follow the treatment with the assistance of Cuban doctors and technicians, said Dr. Llerena.

La Pradera International Health Center has provided health care to patients from more than 60 countries including Canada, United States, France, Germany, England and Spain. Visitors have rated the center as excellent. It is also one of the leading centers in the world for rehabilitation of deaf blind Cuban children. Some of them have received cochlear implants.

A model of Latin American integration, the bilateral agreement that started this program was signed on October 30, 2000 by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro and President Hugo Chavez. The human condition, which is one of that bases of the program, and the expertise of the Cuban medical staff have helped to substantially improve the quality of life of the Venezuelan people.

Translated by: Daysi Olano

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