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SBS Australia Wednesday 23 May 8:30 pm

For those living in Australia, an interesting doco in SBS:

Cuba

For almost half a century Cuba has endured crippling sanctions imposed by its near neighbour the United States. But this tiny Caribbean nation has not only survived but achieved the unthinkable. It has had made major medical breakthroughs and now has a medical report card that is the envy of its most of its neighbours.

Last year, Cuba's infant mortality rate declined even further. It now equals many developed nations but has surpassed that of the United States.

America, the largest medical market in the world, has responded, by accusing Cuba of trying to make money out of medicine. Health and medicine are indeed big business in Cuba. This year, monies raised from health tourism and from its biotechnology breakthroughs look set to surpass Cuba's traditional economic mainstay which has been tourism.

But Cuba's medical miracles are not confined to homeshores. A legion of medical missionaries have been sent to work overseas and the United States is concerned what impact that is having on the region.

By Elbigie on May 22, 2006, 23:27 in Friendly Talkzone.

Elbigie says on May 22, 2006, 23:30:

Correction: Wednesday 24th of MAY Sorry.

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b bruce says on May 24, 2006, 13:59:

Yes, They are very good at improvised boats as well! If the place is such a fine example of medical miracles. Why do people risk life and limb to cross the Florida straights for freedom? I am a Marine Engineering student here in Key West. We receive several of the boats that are recovered from the Coast Guard. I must say some of the work done to make these things float is amazing. The sad part is many don't survive the trip. I would be more impressed if Cuba had high grades for human rights. The Cuban people have suffered terribly under the bearded one. What good are medical miracles if your only concern is putting food on the table for your family. Russia propped him up, now Venezuela is propping him up. I suggest you talk to some of the tens of thousands of Cubans that live here in South Florida about how great Castro's Cuba really is!

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Elbigie says on May 25, 2006, 17:13:

Have you been to Cuba? You're missing the point; the doco is about the quality of the health system in Cuban, where child mortality is lower than in the US OR ANY OTHER Latin country in spite of the embargo.

You could talk to the millions of Mexicans, Colombians, Salvadorians and many other Latin Americans living in USA too . All of them coming from so called "democratic" countries and also talk about how great is to live in a democracy with out the basics: medical attention, food, education, housing and food.

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