CAMAGUEY.- The doctors from this province that participated in the Mas Medicos program in Brazil received a special recognition in the central city during an activity celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Family Doctor and Nurse Program in Cuba.

Presided by the First Secretary of the Communist Party in the territory, Jorge Luis Tapia Fonseca, the doctors were recognized for their commitment in Brazil after returning to the island last November and early December.

On behalf of the residents from Camaguey, Marilyn Jimenez Ruiz highlighted that Cuba’s decision of not continuing to participate in Mas Medicos was a dignified and necessary response before the Brazilian President elect’s statements questioning the professionalism and humanism of the Cuban health professionals.

Before Jair Bolsonaro’s attitude, our decision was based on the principles of the thinking of Jose Marti and our Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, founder of the internationalist vocation of our Cuban health system, said Dr. Jimenez.

The Brazilian people will be affected by Bolsonaro’s position, as the Cuban doctors went to places where no Brazilian doctors wanted to go and many of the people had never received regular or free medical attention, she said.

The Director of the Provincial health office, Reinaldo Pons gave Tapia and the Presidnet of the Provincial National Assembly, Isabel Gonzalez Cardenas a Memories Book of the health professionals that were welcomed at the Ignacio Agramonte Revolution Square during the withdrawal process.

The creation of the Family Doctor and Nurse Program was also remembered during the activity. January 4th, 1984 is the anniversary of the program, which is the concept of family and preventive medicine that inspired the work in Brazil.