Granma newspaper reports that the Cuban embassy in
Panama City recently issued a press release stating that the island
learned about the decision after the Health Ministry of that country
made public its move ending the Cuban medical cooperation project
over the beginning of a national program called “Visión 20-20”
(20/20 Vision).
According to the report, the Cuban embassy confirmed in a series of
meetings with
Panamanian high-ranking authorities over the last 26 days that it is
not a misunderstanding and that the Panamanian government’s
unilateral call is firm.
“Time will tell if those who made the abrupt decision to put an end
to the Cuban medical eye cooperation program on the grounds that it
is no longer necessary because those services will be guaranteed in
both public and private health sectors, are right or not.”
In compliance with the Panamanian decision, the Cuban government
will proceed to immediately withdraw the medical staff and equipment
from that country, according to the press release.
The note expresses the Cuban government’s satisfaction for “having
contributed to increasing the quality of life of the noble and
fraternal Panamanian people, particularly the most vulnerable and
lower-income sectors.”
Granma announced that the Omar Torrijos Herrera eye center of the
Luis "Chicho" Fábrega Hospital in the province of Veraguas, where
the Cuban doctors are working, did not open this morning, February
2. The news has reportedly generated a great repercussion on the
media and has caused people’s anguish.
It could have not turned out differently, especially because Cuban
doctors have returned the sight to 49, 715 people, most of them poor
farmers and natives, Granma concluded.
