December 3rd is the Day of Latin American Medicine and Health Worker in Cuba. The day was marked in honor of renowned scientist Carlos J. Finlay. As it happens every year, health workers across Cuba celebrated the day.

Dr. Carlos J. Finlay made the greatest scientific discovery of tropical medicine: he discovered that some diseases could be transmitted via the mosquito. This discovery ended the scourge of yellow fever which claimed lots of victims among the Cuban population in the 19th century.  Finlay also dedicated to study other diseases such as leprosy, malaria, beriberi, Huntington’s chorea, tuberculosis, hepatic abscess, and eye diseases during his lifetime.

More than 500 000 health workers, who have dedicate their efforts to promote, preserve and recover health both in Cuba and abroad, celebrated this day and reaffirmed their commitment to continue working for excellence in health assistance.

The celebration was the perfect setting to recognize outstanding workers who have worked to improve health indicators both in Cuba and abroad.

One of the achievements that deserved being celebrated was hitting a new low of 4.5 per every 1,000 children born alive in infant mortality rate. This is the lowest rate in Latin American; and it is even lower than rates of the United States and Canada.

This low figure owes to Cuba’s vaccination program that protects children from 13 curable diseases. Also pregnant women received total assistance since the beginning of their pregnancy through the Child and Mother Program.

Before the triumph of the Cuban revolution in 1959, life expectancy at birth did not exceed 60 years old; now is nearly 80 years old.  There are programs that protect elderly people, such as homes and day centers for grandparents. Another initiative is the University for the Elderly where they are trained to face the old age with better quality of life.

A translation by: Silke Paez Carr

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