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Cuba trains 10,000 doctors for the world


10,000 doctors from 60 countries trained in Cuba

lac/ydg, Havana, Thursday July 28 2011 (Prensa Latina)


 
The Latin American Scool of Medicine (ELAM) has trained some 10,000 health professionales from around 60 nations from the first graduation in 2005 to today, comfirmed the rector of that institution, Juan Carrizo (pictured).

According to the doctor's declarations, issued by the National Information Agency, during the 2010-2011 course, more than 1,300 physicians from 48 nations graduated from the faculties of Medical Sciences in Cuba, including 20 young North Americans.

ELAM is a university which trains Basic General Doctors, oriented towards primary health care as the basic aim of their professional training.

They finish their studies with advanced scientific, humanist, ethical and philanthropical training and the capacity to work in their agreed setting, tending to the needs of the region.

Cuba responded to the disaster caused in several nations of Central America by hurricanes George and Mitch in 1998 by conceiving of a Comprehensive Heath Programme, a co-operative project that involved sending health brigades to the most affected places.

Fidel Castro conceived of ELAM's creation to train young people of those countries as doctors, so that after a period of six years they return to their communities at last to contribute to the sustainability of their health systems.

Translated by James Tweedie

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