Norway continues funding Cuban health services in Haiti

Norway continues funding Cuban health services in Haiti

Continuing a trend of wealthier donor nations funding Cuban healthcare
expertise for developing countries, Norway signed an agreement July 12
with the Cuban government under which the Scandinavian country provides
$800,000 for healthcare services in Haiti.

This is Norway's third agreement with Cuba to fund medical aid in the
two-and-half years since an earthquake struck Haiti. The two first
installments both came in 2010; Norway's contributions under the
three-way cooperation now total $2.5 million.

The tri-party arrangement is "a way of investing money efficiently in a
needy country," said Ambassador John Pette Opdahl, according to Prensa
Latina.

Opdahl signed at the Ministry of Foreign Trade (MINCEX) in Havana.

Norway's third installment covers part of the expenses of the Cuban
medical brigade for work mostly in the South of Haiti, according to
embassy spokesman Iver Williksen. The tasks of the brigade include
rebuilding the local healthcare system and controlling cholera, which
has struck hundreds of thousands of Haitians.

Meanwhile, a cholera outbreak in Eastern Cuba that has killed at least
three elderly Cubans is under control, according to officials.

Cuba is also working in Haiti under an $80 million Brazilian-funded
program for the reconstruction of the Haitian healthcare system. That
program covers construction of four hospitals and purchase of equipment.

http://www.cubastandard.com/2012/07/12/norway-continues-funding-of-cuban-health-services-in-haiti/