October 14, 2010 at 6:30 PM - Cuba's international solidarity in health care and a detailed first-hand account of Cuba’s internationalist health brigades

October 14th's educational event was a stellar success with a packed room representing a broad array of students, academics, workers, solidarity activists and healthcare personnel.  After a brilliant presentation by Dr Gutierrez which covered the historical development of Cuba's modern healthcare system and it's exemplary Global Health  achievements and innovations audience members participated in a lively question and answer period.

We, at Toronto Forum on Cuba, would like to express our thanks to Dr. Chris Keefer for producing the following video of the presentation, which we encourage our readers to view and to distribute far and wide.  Enjoy!

Joel Gutierrez: Cuba's Health System and Global Health Innovations from chris keefer on Vimeo.

Since the 1959 revolution Cuba has developed one of the most successful healthcare systems in the world, particularly considering its low income status. Cuba has accomplished this feat through a focus on primary preventative care integrated within the community as well as incorporating a public health lens into its general policy making. Remarkably Cuba's impressive health indicators have weathered the contraction of its economy following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the ongoing hardships faced by the island in the face of the current global economic crisis and the ever present economic blockade imposed by the USA.

In addition to these domestic accomplishments Cuba has developed and maintained an unprecedented capacity for medical solidarity sending tens of thousands of health professionals to countries across the global south including most recently Venezuela, Pakistan, Bolivia and Haiti. Finally Cuba is reversing the brain drain suffered by countries of the global south by educating tens of thousands of low income international medical students on full scholarships through its flagship program the Latin American School of Medicine.

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“Cuba's international solidarity in health care and a detailed first-hand account of Cuba’s internationalist health brigades”

Educational presentation, followed by Q & A

Guest Speaker:  Joel Gutierrez. MD. Ph.D.
(Chair Clinical Neurophysiology Dept and Deputy Research Director of the Cuban Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery Professor of Clinical Neurophysiology of the Havana Medical University).

A detailed first hand account of Cuba's Internationalist Brigades by Joel Gutierrez. MD. Ph.D

Come and hear the untold story of Cuba's remarkable success in developing a first class healthcare system as well as one of the largest disaster response and solidarity capabilities of the 21st century. 

Since the 1959 revolution Cuba has developed one of the most successful healthcare systems in the world, particularly considering its low income status.  Cuba has accomplished this feat through a focus on primary preventative care integrated within the community as well as incorporating a public health lens into its general policy making.  Remarkably Cuba's impressive health indicators have weathered the contraction of its economy following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the ongoing hardships faced by the island in the face of the current global economic crisis and the ever present economic blockade imposed by the USA. 

In addition to these domestic accomplishments Cuba has developed and maintained an unprecedented capacity for medical solidarity sending tens of thousands of health professionals to countries across the global south including most recently Venezuela, Pakistan, Bolivia and Haiti.  Finally Cuba is reversing the brain drain suffered by countries of the global south by educating tens of thousands of low income international medical students on full scholarships through its flagship program the Latin American School of Medicine.  

Come out and learn more about these remarkable achievements and examples of innovations within global health. 

Organized by:   Toronto Forum on Cuba