A Light of Hope in the Caribbean

Monday, 20 July 2009, by Jorge Marques, Infomed

The Cuban program of medical care to children affected by the Chernobyl accident was granted the space it deserves at the International Solidarity Days organized by the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, ICAP.

At the event, held in Havana from 14 – 24 July, Program Manager Dr. Julio Medina pointed out the essentially humanitarian nature of the program and remarked that over 20 thousand persons have been cared for during more than 20 years of intense health work.

Before the audience gathered that afternoon at Casa de la Amistad (Friendship House), Dr. Medina explained that children mainly from Ukraine (and also from Russia and Byelorussia) have received specialized health care, not only at the hospital set up in Tarara, but also at other prestigious health institutions in Cuba.

He reminisced about how the program remained active under the difficult circumstances of the special period, and pointed out that health professionals jointly with the Cuban population provided medical assistance, love, and even the bread that was eaten those days.

He also referred to the hard struggle waged against death for two decades, and commented that among the most outstanding rewards of such an effort are, in the first place, the deep thankfulness to Cuba and to Fidel expressed by patients and relatives alike. 

The meeting, which was attended by Tarara health personnel, patients and relatives from Ukraine involved in the program, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited to Havana, and members of the Cuba–Russia and Cuba–Nordic Countries Friendship Associations, included the presentation of the documentary Chernobil en nosotros (Chernobyl in us), by journalist and film maker Daisy Gomez.

The documentary is a moving display of the tragedy lived in various parts of the former Soviet Union and other regions from the European continent.

The film accurately combines images, sounds and testimonies, where death seems to be an all-destructive force, but is eventually defeated. A light of hope shines in a small Caribbean country.

In more than one instance, the tenacity of the health personnel defeats death, making it possible for the dreams of a child to be palpable reality at present.

This is evident in the dialogue between two youngsters at the end of the documentary: one is culminating dentistry career (about to graduate at present), and the other one, studies English.  When they arrived some years ago their condition was critical. But now they talk to one another as they peacefully stroll along the beach of Tarara…

The meeting was presided over by ICAP Vice-President Elio Gámez, who also made the presentation.

The Director of the Europe Division at ICAP, comrade Holmedo Pérez, made a presentation about solidarity with Cuba in Europe.

The meeting was also attended by:
• José Rosado, Director of the Europe Division at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment;
• Santiago Pérez, Deputy Director of the Europe Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX);
• Dr. Carlos Dotres, first co-ordinator of the Chernobyl program;
• Sergio López, former Cuban ambassador to Ukraine, founder of the Program;
• Katrien Demuinck, co-ordinator of solidarity with the Five Heroes in Europe, and
• José R. Fernández Vega, Director of Bohemia magazine and president of the group of friendship with Ukraine in the Cuban Parliament.

Brigadier General Arnaldo Tamayo Mendez, President of the Cuba–Russia Friendship Association, delivered the closing speech.

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