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CNN World Report
Developed Nations Pitch in for Health Needs of Others
Aired June 17, 2001 - 14:40 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SHIHAB RATTANSI, CNN ANCHOR: Hundreds of Cuban physicians have volunteered to serve in Africa. They're taking part in a special health program that's operating in nine countries and while living conditions can be harsh at times in sub-Saharan Africa, the physicians say as long as the program continues to benefit people, they'll keep doing their job.
Cubavision takes us to two countries to show us their work.
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MARTA CARBAJAL, CUBAVISION REPORTER (voice-over): Those who live in this sub-Saharan African area had never seen a doctor before. This doctor came for the first time from a very distant country, Cuba.
"I've had the chance to learn about the realities of Africa; the realities of a poor country and its social differences. And above all, I've had to face diseases which I wouldn't have been able to see except in books."
More than two years ago, Cuba began to send health personnel to Africa. The program was known as Integral Health Program. The program began in Niger in 1999. Months later, it was extended to Gambia and Equatorial Guinea, and today it covers nine African countries, where 802 Cuban health experts are working.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I'd love to receive medical care from the Cuban doctor who worked so well. Cubans doctors work very hard, and there is no problem at all.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): He's working all day long. He doesn't have a day off.
CARBAJAL: The Cuban health experts often have to work under very hard conditions without electricity or drinking water, walking two or threes hours to get to the clinics and to take care of patients that speak different dialects. But above all, they have to face their (UNINTELLIGIBLE).
PRESIDENT OBIAN ENGUEMA, EQUATORIAL GUINEA (through translator): This is an unprecedented cooperation because no other friendly nation has given such a human cooperation.
ADDULAE SALAH, GAMBIAN HEALTH MINISTER (through translator): The Cuban government's policy of sending doctors to Gambia is a good example of what cooperation should be.
CARBAJAL: Two years after the island began it medical cooperation program in Africa, Cuban doctors have seen more than 1 1/2 million patients, performed more than 16,000 operations, delivered 20,000 babies and remarkably reduced the infant mortality rate. The Integral Health Program also includes the training of medical staff in the countries involved. That is why medical schools are already operating in Gambia and Equatorial Guinea.
As President Fidel Castro said, Cuba is willing not only to maintain the program, but also to extend it. In line with this, the number of Cuban doctors taking care of African health needs could reach 3,000 or more and could last as long as the countries need it.
The health situation of Africa makes us think that the Cuban project will extend for many more years. This report was made by Marta Carbajal from Cubavision International for CNN WORLD REPORT.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASIEH NAMDAR, CNN ANCHOR: Suriname is another country suffering from an inefficient and ill-equipped health program. The South American country's health minister says the main problem is money, but overcrowded urban areas also contribute to the spread of infectious diseases. An estimated 70 percent of Suriname's population live on less than a half-percent of its land surface. Doctors and medical technicians from the U.S. Air Force recently offered their help.
Suriname's ATV reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEVEN LEEFLANG, ATV REPORTER (voice-over): The public school at (UNINTELLIGIBLE), 25 kilometers from Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. For a few days, this is one of the centers in which U.S. Air Force team offers medical services to children and adults as part of a medical training exercise, Met Ready. This medical mission is part of a joint agreement between Suriname and the United States of America.
LISA HUGHES, DEP. CHIEF OF MISSION EMBASSY: It's part of our ongoing cooperative program between our defense attache office and the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Health of the government of Suriname. We're actually always looking for areas where we can be cooperating government to government, people to people.
LEEFLANG: Every morning for nine day, students of elementary schools are prepared for the medical activities of the day. Most of them look forward to examination, except for Mil.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I'm afraid. That's why I ran away. I thought he would give me a shot.
LEEFLANG: The makeshift medical center gets a lot of patients. In nine days, almost 4,000 people undergo a physical examination. To help this amount of people, the American medical team works closely with medics from the Surinamese army, the regional health services and the Youth Dental Service. According to the American medical team, the general health status of this area is good.
So, why do they see 4,000 patients in nine days?
CYNTHIA ALENDY, DOCTOR, REGIONAL HEALTH SERVICES (through translator): It is easy now because everything is free. The exam and medicines are free. If the people go to a local doctor, they have pay and medicines are very expensive in Suriname. So they come for the free medicines especially.
LEEFLANG: The check-ups benefit a local community and at the same time, give the Americans an opportunity to get experience of working in the tropics.
COL. GREG MELCHER, U.S. AIR FORCE: This is the kind of training we need to get our group out of the hospital, get our gear packed, ready to go and come and really do a mission.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get ready, OK.
LEEFLANG: After going through a day of physical exams, patients and doctors become friends. Fear is forgotten and laughs are shared. The medical center is closed, the mission completed, and 4,000 people live with the knowledge that a caring medical team of the United States Air Force has examined them.
Steven Leeflang for CNN WORLD REPORT.
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