By Regina del Sol and Alejandro Hernández
HAVANA (AIDH/CubaNet) - Cuba's state-controlled news media are dedicating
ample space to coverage of the "international missions" of the
country's medical teams in the Third World.
No less than seven television reports are broadcast weekly, extolling the
disinterested work of the teams, their humanitarian efforts and the values
created in them by the revolution. On more than one occasion the doctors have
been described as missionaries who have renounced comfort in order to fulfill a
sacred duty.
During a speech April 16 by Fidel Castro that, in our opinion, is the one
containing the most lies, he couldn't help but talk of the medical teams:
"Without socialism more than 40,000 health workers would not have been
able to provide a noble international collaboration in more than 90 countries,
nor would they be carrying out today health programs in 16 Latin American,
Caribbean and African countries, thanks to the immense human capital created by
the revolution."
Our doctors are really making a sacrifice, but not for the reasons given by
the regime, but for earning miserable salaries and dealing with thousands of
ailments every day without having the medical resources and food to combat them.
A young pediatrician said on one occasion: "My heart breaks when I have to
tell a humble mother that the solution for her son's gastric problems is
evaporated milk; the only way to obtain it is paying US$1.50 for a half-liter
carton." She was referring to a Cuban brand (Río Zaza) that is sold
for dollars in Cuban stores.
A recently interviewed nurse, who asked that he name not be used, said that
many members of medical teams abandon their families to fulfill those famous
missions. She said that a medical specialist earns a monthly salary of around
400 pesos in Cuba. If he or she goes on a mission, the family receives the
20-dollar salary plus 50 dollars a month while the doctor receives 150 dollars
to cover expenses in the assigned country.
Assuming that the exchange rate is 20 to one, to facilitate the calculation,
the following result is given:
Salary of a doctor in Cuba: 400 pesos = 20 dollars.
Salary of a doctor on an international mission: 20 + 50 + 150 = 220 dollars.
Any human being in a difficult economic situation would not think twice
about accepting an increase of 1,100% in his or her salary, no matter the
working conditions.
Given these facts, you can answer the question: what moves the poor Cuban
doctors, solidarity or dollars?
Versión
original en español
CubaNet does not require sole rights from its
contributors. We authorize the reproduction and distribution of this article as
long as the source is credited.
| 
