Antigua extends its public health agreement with Cuba

Antigua extends its public health agreement with Cuba
December 9, 2016 THERESA GORDONM

Antigua & Barbuda has extended its public health agreement with Cuba
with the signing of an agreement on the occasion of Cuba-Caricom Day,
Thursday.

Medical services are currently given to Antigua & Barbuda by 47 members
from a Cuban Medical Brigade, which includes medical specialists in
different areas such as oncology, epidemiology and endocrinology, among
others.

The contributors mostly provide their services to the Mount St John's
Medical Center (MSJMC).

Speaking after a brief signing ceremony, Health Minister Molwyn Joseph
said without the assistance from Cuba, Antigua would not be able to
deliver the quality and expansiveness of health services it does today.

"Cuba is therefore an integral part of how we service our people, in
terms of health care, and an integral part in terms of how we develop
specialties in the area of health care," Joseph said.

The minister said in recent times Antigua had requested specialists from
Cuba, and on every occasion, they had delivered.

"We are not in a position in Antigua & Barbuda, and we hope in the next
two years that the MSJMC will be able to provide services in all the
specialties that are required in a modern-day health care facility,"
Joseph said.

Cuban Ambassador Gustavo Veliz Olivares said the signing signals Cuba's
continued support for Antigua and the other 60 plus countries which the
Spanish-speaking country has extended its hands to.

"We have to share the little that we have. Despite our difficulties on
any occasion, we will share what we have," Ambassador Olivares said.

Source: Antigua extends its public health agreement with Cuba | Antigua
Observer Newspaper -
http://antiguaobserver.com/antigua-extends-its-public-health-agreement-with-cuba/