Latin America

Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts) Wed Apr 16, 2014, 02:48 AM Apr 2014

Cuban doctors in eye of Venezuelan hurricane; program popular with poor, maddening to critics

Cuban doctors in eye of Venezuelan hurricane; program popular with poor, maddening to critics
By Andrea Rodriguez, The Associated Press April 16, 2014 12:40 AM

CARACAS, Venezuela - When Judith Faraiz's son was near death after a severe motorcycle accident, she put his life in the hands of God and Cuban doctors.

Like many in Petare, a sprawling hillside slum of crumbling brick buildings on the eastern outskirts of Caracas, Faraiz has come to rely on Cuban physicians for free health services in a country where private care is too expensive for the poor and public hospitals have a dismal reputation.

The link is vital for both governments: In exchange for the services of its doctors and other professionals, Havana gets an estimated $3.2 billion in cut-rate Venezuelan oil that is a lifeline for Cuba's ailing economy. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, for his part, relies on social programs such as these to shore up support among his poor power base even as his approval ratings fall hand-in-hand with a faltering economy.

The Cuban doctors are the most visible symbol of the controversial collaboration between the two countries during 15 years of socialist rule in Venezuela, and increasingly they are a flashpoint for the violent unrest that has rocked the country since February and is blamed for at more than 40 deaths.

More:
http://www.canada.com/news/world/Cuban+doctors+Venezuelan+hurricane+program+popular+with+poor/9742447/story.html

6 replies

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Cuban doctors in eye of Venezuelan hurricane; program popular with poor, maddening to critics (Original Post) Judi Lynn Apr 2014 OP

The rich probably also hate roody Apr 2014 #1

You'd think they'd be too embarrassed to let people know that's the way they are. Judi Lynn Apr 2014 #2

The rich in Venezuela also include chavistas, such as Omar Prieto Marksman_91 Apr 2014 #6

The Cuban workers, doctors included, should have normal conditions of work ChangoLoa Apr 2014 #3

FYI, the Cuban Ministry of Health only sends volunteers.... Mika Apr 2014 #4

The Cubans are also receiving about 20X their normal wages, Flatulo Apr 2014 #5

roody

(10,849 posts)

1. The rich probably also hate

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Wed Apr 16, 2014, 07:51 PM

Apr 2014

the fact that many poor Venezuelans go to Cuba for eye surgery. Just like here, the rich hate seeing the poor get health care.

Judi Lynn

(160,542 posts)

2. You'd think they'd be too embarrassed to let people know that's the way they are.

Reply to roody (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 17, 2014, 03:14 AM

Apr 2014

I'm sure they despise the very idea of poor people regaining their vision, after living so long with impaired vision. They would begrudge knowing about the children who have been helped by having tumors removed from their eyes, returned to fully functioning lives, etc.

It makes you sick at heart hearing these people fight so hard against helping the poor and suffering step beyond even some of their misery, and suffering.

Marksman_91

(2,035 posts)

6. The rich in Venezuela also include chavistas, such as Omar Prieto

Reply to roody (Reply #1)

Thu Apr 17, 2014, 03:16 PM

Apr 2014

Prieto, in case you don't know, is the PSUV mayor of the San Francisco municipality of Zulia state. Here's a recent gallery that came out which has pictures of his daughter's Quinceañera party:

http://twittervenezuela.co/m/discussion?id=3707757%3ATopic%3A830512

Not exactly humble, are they? And he sure as hell wouldn't have been able to afford that kind of party with a mayor's salary.

Guess he kinda missed the part when Chávez himself said "ser rico es malo" (being rich is bad)

ChangoLoa

(2,010 posts)

3. The Cuban workers, doctors included, should have normal conditions of work

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Apr 17, 2014, 10:10 AM

Apr 2014

With normal salaries and the right to move as they wish on their free time.

Mika

(17,751 posts)

4. FYI, the Cuban Ministry of Health only sends volunteers....

Reply to ChangoLoa (Reply #3)

Thu Apr 17, 2014, 12:40 PM

Apr 2014

... and that is only after they polled Cuban health workers as to their mission in Ven.

Cuban Drs. and h/c ancillaries are in Ven because of their own volition.

I know that's hard to comprehend from here.

Flatulo

(5,005 posts)

5. The Cubans are also receiving about 20X their normal wages,

Reply to Judi Lynn (Original post)

Thu Apr 17, 2014, 12:56 PM

Apr 2014

so that's probably a pretty good incentive right there.

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