Canadian government through CIDA contributes to healthcare in Cuba

A program designed to enhance health care capacity in Cuba, operated by Health Partners International of Canada, is moving into a new phase.

The HPIC Cuba health sector program, funded by the Canadian government through CIDA, brings together government, corporate and charitable partners in Canada in order to help Cuba meet the medical needs of its population. In the coming months, HPIC will contribute to Cuban health care through three principle activities: sharing Canadian expertise in the area of acute respiratory infections; training Cuban healthcare workers in palliative care; and delivering at least one more shipment of medicine and medical equipment.

Over the past five years, HPIC has facilitated the exchange of knowledge and Canadian expertise in the areas of palliative care, obstetrics and gynecology, and the sourcing, warehousing and distribution of medicines.

HPIC has also provided medicines and medical supplies worth $20 million as well as medical equipment to the Cuban Ministry of Health in that time. The recently appointed Cuban ambassador to Canada, Her Excellency Teresita de Jeszs Vicente Sotolongo, said, "We are pleased with the results of this long-standing partnership with HPIC and CIDA. As the public health system improves, ordinary citizens receive the care they need. We look forward to our continued cooperation in the area of healthcare services."

According to John Kelsall, president of HPIC, "Canadian medical aid and expertise are reinforcing Cuba's efforts to increase its healthcare capacity. We are grateful to the Canadian government, through CIDA, for making this possible."

Health Partners International of Canada is a medical aid organization dedicated to improving access to health care and medicine in the developing world. Since 1990, HPIC has provided more than $280 million of medical aid to 116 countries. www.hpicanada.ca