17.07.2009 

Seven Cuban doctors and specialists are expected to arrive in Seychelles in the next two weeks, and another group will be here before the end of the year.

This follows the signing yesterday of a new cooperation agreement between the Cuban Ministry of Health and Seychelles’ Ministry of Health and Social Development.

The signing of the accord, which aims to strengthen the development of medical help and cooperation in various fields, took place at the headquarters of the health ministry at Mont Fleuri.

The Cuban ambassador to Seychelles, Maria Aida Nogales Jimenez, signed the document on behalf of her country, while Designated Minister and Minister for Finance Danny Faure signed for Seychelles in place of Minister for Health and Social Development Marie-Pierre Lloyd.

Among the terms of this new agreement, Cuban medical staff here are to be increased to a total of 28 from the 15 provided under the present arrangement. Also, new areas of cooperation have been identified such as medical training, and helping the country with its anti-epidemic campaigns and eradication of certain diseases.

The agreement also provides for other help we will need in setting up the University of Seychelles.
Under the new accord, the Cuban government will continue to pay the full salaries of the doctors and specialists sent here, as well as giving financial help to their families so they will not have to send any money back home.

Mr Faure told Mrs Jimenez the signing of the agreement is a milestone. He expressed his gratitude and that of the Seychellois people for all the support Cuba has given to Seychelles, and praised the strong bonds of friendship and cooperation between the people of the two countries.

He said the signing comes at a time when the country is in the middle of economic reforms, which are having an impact on social sectors such as our health system and mean we have to provide more resources, whether financial or human, to maintain it.

“And as we move forward we need to maintain standards, achieve highest-quality services and results, and for this we express our appreciation,” said Mr Faure.

“We value this collaboration, which has brought Cuban medical personnel for whom the Seychellois people have high esteem; we appreciate the work they have done in the past and will continue to do in the future.

“This agreement is a very important one for the government and the Ministry of Health.” 
Mrs Jimenez praised the longstanding and active cooperation her country has had with Seychelles and said Cuba will do all it can to widen it to other sectors. She said the agreement is further proof of the strong and friendly links between the two countries.

The chief executive of the Health Services Agency, Marise Berlouis, said the seven doctors and specialists who will arrive in the coming two weeks will include a kidney specialist, a vascular surgeon, an ear, nose and throat specialist and a gynaecologist.   

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