Gorry C

Language: English
References: 19
Page: 48-51
PDF size: 823.09 Kb.

Text Extraction

The intertwined history of Cuba and Guatemala goes back almost five centuries. In 1536, Friar Bartolomé de las Casas sailed from Cuba to Guatemala with material for his book, A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies, seared upon his conscience. Documenting atrocities against Cuba’s indigenous populations, the book persuaded Guatemala’s colonial powers to rewrite abusive labor laws that were killing the Maya; the book also earned De las Casas the nickname ‘apostle of the Indians.’ Over 300 years later, the apostle of Cuban independence, José Martí, cut his journalistic teeth in Guatemala, while Cuban poet José Joaquín Palma authored Guatemala’s national anthem. More recently, in the 1950s, Dr Ernesto (‘Che’) Guevara’s time in the country solidified his belief in the need for radical social change a few years before he would join Fidel Castro’s Rebel Army.

REFERENCES

1. Inter-American Development Bank. Central America after Hurricane Mitch [monograph on the Internet]. 2000 May; [cited 2009 Apr 14]. Available from: www.iadb.org/regions/re2/consultative_group/backgrounder5.htm.

2. Brigada Médica Cubana Guatemala 2008 [PowerPoint presentation]. 2009 Jan.

3. Alonso O. Colaboración Médica Cubana: Guatemala, Del Tocororo al Quetzal. Havana:Editorial Pablo de la Torriente. 2001. p. 30.

4. For more details on these programs, see Cuban Health Cooperation Turns 45. MEDICC Review. 2008 Summer;10(3):44–7.

5. Ubieta E. La Utopía rearmada: Historias de un viaje al nuevo mundo. Havana: Casa Editora Abril. 2002. p. 247.

6. Macmillan International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs. 2006. The indigenous world 2006 [monograph on the Internet]; [cited 2009 Apr 14 ]. Available from: www.iwgia.org/graphics/Synkron-Library/Documents/ publications/Downloadpublications/IndigenousWorld/IW%202006/ IW2006(573pages).pdf

7. In an interview with the author, Cuban surgeon posted at Escuintla General Hospital Dr Marcos Armada stated: “Midwives usually come to us when complications arise during childbirth—uterine ruptures, sepsis and breech births. This is why we underscore the importance of maternal and child health, and work with the community.”

8. United Nations Development Programme. Human Development Report 2006. Más allá de la escazez: Poder, pobreza, y la crisis mundial del agua. New York; 2006. p. 272–3.

9. Rio M. South-South Partnerships: Cuba’s Vision Restoration Program [PowerPoint presentation]. 2009 Apr.

10. For more on Cuba’s vision restoration program, see Gorry, C. Sight for sore eyes. MEDICC Review. 2008 Spring. 10(2):49–51.

11. United Nations Development Programme. Human Development Report 2000. New York; 2000. p.159.

12. Editorial de Prensa Latina. Entrevista con el Doctor Juan Domingo Carrizo, Rector de la Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina. Primera Graduación Escuela Latinoamericano de Medicina. Revista Panorama Cuba y Salud: Edición Especial por la primera graduación. Prensa Latina, Havana. 2005.

13. There are currently over 8,000 students from 30 countries studying at the ELAM.

14. In the four graduating classes between 2005 and 2008, 6,047 new doctors received their medical degrees from ELAM.

15. Of the 1,498 graduates in 2005, 187 were Guatemalan, the second-largest group after Hondurans, which graduated 215. MEDICC Review. 2005 Aug– Sept;7(8):3.

16. For example, see Forero J. Venezuela: Protest against Cuban doctors. The New York Times. 2005 July 16; World Briefing; BBC. Bolivia protest over Cuba medics. BBC News. 2006 Jun 22; and BBC News. Venezuela medics march over jobs. 2005 July 17.

17. Like all medical graduates who aspire to practice in the USA, ELAM graduates from the United States are required to pass the US Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE).

18. Author interview with Cuban medical cooperation chief in Guatemala, Jose Ramon Ruiz, February 4, 2009.

19. Paredes E. Atienden a pacientes de 13 municipios. Prensa Libre. 2009 Feb 2;46.