Reuters: Cuban Doctors say politics blocked Katrina aid offer

[cire4]

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban doctors put on stand-by a week ago by President Fidel Castro to fly to the aid of the victims of Hurricane Katrina said on Friday they hoped the United States would put politics aside and accept their help.

So far, the word from Washington has been thanks, but no thanks. The White House snubbed Cuba's offer and said Castro would do better "freeing" his Communist-run country.

<snip>

Castro, calling a truce in Cuba's four-decade-old ideological war with the United States, offered on September 2 to fly the doctors to treat people in the New Orleans disaster.

<snip>

"When it comes to Cuba, we have one message for Fidel Castro: He needs to offer the people of Cuba their freedom," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at a press briefing on Thursday.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050909/ts_nm/cuba_dc_1

[CottonBear]

1. I have one message for Scott: Fuck you. Let Cuba help us save our people.

:grr:

[The Crazy Canadian]

2. Castro should be sending those doctors to other parts of Latin America.

Fuck helping a country that has terrorized his nation. Also, he needs to retire and let other people run the country or it'll end up a mess soon after he dies.

[Placebo]

3. We don't need their (probably) poorly trained...

non-English speaking doctors.

And even if we did accept the offer I doubt it would change much. I mean, it's a pretty small number of doctors and all the diplomatic hassle surrounding their travels and such while here...it would just be a pain and totally unnecessary.

Thanks, but no thanks.

[cire4]

4. Disagree...They definitely could help....

Send them to the Astrodome and each one of the evacuees there could undergo a full medical check-up. With all the bacteria that had been floating around in those New Orleans waters and the 3rd world conditions inside the Superdome where many had been previously held, the risk of having contracting something is quite considerable.

If we have doctors offering free medical help, then there is no doubt as to what we should do. Politics shouldn't trump pragmatism....

[rodeodance]

5. Cuba has kept up in the medical world and it is a disgrace that we

buff them off. Many shows have stated there is a need for docs in the gulf coast area.

[Say_What]

7. Doctors Urge U.S. to Accept Cuba's Offer

Tell that to the survivors of the hurricane who have loved ones in need of medical care or those who have relatives that DIED because nobody prepared for getting them out of harms way and then waited days before sending help.

You really ought to do a bit of research before making such ignorant statements.

<clip>

ATLANTA, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- A prominent U.S. medical group voiced
"deep concern" over delays in health care and epidemic prevention reaching
Katrina victims, and urged U.S. authorities to accept Cuba's offer of 1586
disaster-trained physicians to prevent a "second wave of sickness and death."
Latest reports indicate the U.S. State Department is backing away from the
offer, implying they are not needed.

"Up to this point, there been a clear need for more medical help for
Katrina victims," said Peter Bourne, MD, Chairman of MEDICC and former special
adviser on health in the Carter White House and former Assistant Secretary
General at the United Nations. "The Cuban physicians are accustomed to working
in difficult third-world conditions without the resources and supplies most of
us are accustomed to. Since they are just an hour away, it is a shame that
they have not been allowed to join our committed medical corps already."

He is joined by other physicians, medical educators, international health
experts and a former U.S. surgeon general associated with MEDICC, Medical
Education Cooperation with Cuba. From 1998 through 2004, MEDICC has provided
medical electives in Cuba for nearly 1000 students and faculty from 118 U.S.
medical, public health and nursing schools.

"Cuba has been recognized by the UN, Oxfam and other international
organizations as a leader in disaster response, expertise that could be saving
lives now," said Doctor William Keck, former long-time director of the Akron,
Ohio Department of Public Health.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/09-07-2005/0004102379&EDATE=

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
<clips>

Weathering the Storm
Lessons in Risk Reduction from Cuba

Cuba is a case study in successful disaster risk reduction. At the national level, Cuba's disaster legislation, public education on disasters, meteorological research, early warning system, effective communication system for emergencies, comprehensive emergency plan, and Civil Defense structure are important resources in avoiding disaster. At the local level, high levels of literacy, developed infrastructure in rural areas and access to reliable health care are crucial for national efforts in disaster mitigation, preparation and response. Weathering the Storm: Lessons in Risk Reduction from Cuba presents a comprehensive overview of the Cuban model of risk reduction in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, and explores what may be adapted from this model in other countries. The report focuses on specific recommendations for Central America.

http://www.oxfamamerica.org/newsandpublications/publications/research_reports/art7111.html/?searchterm=cuba%E2%80%9C

[sundancekid]

9. well said and well done ... as a doc, I appreciate your objective analysis

and your wisdom in posting credible data ...

[pinerow]

10. Where do you get the idea that these doctors are "poorly" trained...

they have rendered assistance to countries all over the globe during times of disasters; natural and man-made. As far as 'poorly' trained doctors, we don't seem to lacking any here in the U.S.

[texpatriot2004]

6. Ego and Pride before aid. How sick. n/t

[Say_What]

8. As usual, MiamiGusano votes trump human lives

:puke: :puke: :puke:

[tanyev]

11. Like we gave the people of Iraq their freedom?