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The long awaited Cuban medical professionals, who would be deployed to serve
in various health centres in the country have arrived at last. Welcoming the
17 medical professionals at Maseru Sun Cabanas on Monday 29 July, 2002 the
minister of health and social welfare, Dr Motloheloa Phooko, said the government
is highly grateful to the Cuban government for providing Lesotho with
medical doctors, who will assist in health services in the country.
Dr. Phooko, said the coming of these medical professionals follows signing
of a health cooperation agreement done in Cuba between the Ministry of
Health and Social Welfare of the Kingdom of Lesotho and the Ministry of Public
Health of the Republic of Cuba in April 2002."It is hardly three months
since, this agreement was signed, and we already enjoy the fruits of such an
agreement. This gesture is a true symbol of what
one would call excellent bilateral working relations.", Dr Phooko,
said.
The Minister, said both the ministry of health and social welfare in Lesotho
and the public health of the Republic of Cuba identified the Integrated
health care at primary and secondary levels; technical assistance; human
resources in service training and management of programmes for medication as
priority in the cooperation. After agreeing on these priority areas, it was
further agreed that the Cuban medical doctors shall provide direct medical
care in the remote regions of Lesotho.
The Minister also pointed out that Cuba is known for its medical history and
it was the first country that volunteered to provide medical care and drugs
during the September 2001 after math in U.S.A. He said, the Cuban government
is indeed doing a great assistance to the countries of the world and
"Lesotho is grateful to be amongst those assisted by Cuba", he
stressed.
Speaking at the same occasion, the Cuban Ambassador to Lesotho based in Pretoria,
South Africa, Mr. Angel Villa, showed that his government was very proud to
have accepted the request made by the Lesotho government to assist with the
Medical Doctors. He showed that the Mission, which has brought this Cuban
Doctors in Lesotho would be fulfilled. Speaking on behalf of the Cuban
Doctors the Team Leader, Dr. Felipe Bustilo said that they are happy to have
come to Lesotho to assist Basotho with the health services they need. He
showed that they are ready to start any time.
Another group of 10 Cuban doctors is expected to arrive in Lesotho in about
two weeks time. Cuba has a population of 11 million people about 67 000 of
that population are medical professionals.
30 July, 2002
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