Finding the right words to summarize the entire Cuba experience is
proving to be very difficult. So many aspects of what we seen and heard
over the course of the 6 day trip have been left out of the previous
articles I have shared.
What
to take away? Regarding health care, the concept of health care access
as a basic human right is a very refreshing approach. While the
population numbers and the emphasis on the business side of medicine in
this country would make it very difficult to achieve. The cost of basic
health care alone would make it nearly impossible to sustain a practice.
What is the answer? That I do not know. But seeing physicians
practicing for the good of humanity was very moving to me.
Cuba as a country is a very proud nation. You can see the Cuban flag
proudly displayed just as you would see it in the United States. Also as
we revere our founding fathers, Cuba reveres the key leaders from the
time of revolution such as Fidel Castro, Jose Marti, and Che
Guevara. While there was mention of government opposition, the general
population seemed to be very content with where they are as a nation.
Yes the buildings are crumbling, but it was not uncommon to see the
people in the community scrubbing the steps or walk in front of their
home or business. This shows pride in what little they have. While there
are hints of a makeover taking place along the main coastal drive, Cuba
has a long way to go to restoring the beauty of the city of Havana.
As
more and more loop holes are created for Americans to enter this
country, the tourism dollars will increase enhancing the poor economy of
Cuba. If I have the opportunity to return to Cuba, I would gladly do
it. All of our tour was centered in the city of Havana. This left much
of the country side yet to be seen and appreciated. Rita, our tour
guide, mentioned beautiful beaches to our east. Areas like this were
left to our imagination as we did not make it to that region. I would
definitely like to see more of the country. After all, the Caribbean is
the Caribbean! Cuba has a warm tropical climate with breathtaking blue
waters as you expect in this part of the world.
To conclude this series to me is bittersweet. As I have tried to
share my experiences in ink (or computer print); many of our experiences
will be kept in our memories and shared only by the group. I hope you
have enjoyed my articles. This is a trip of a lifetime for me, both
professionally and personally. With that I would like to thank Dr Jessee
and MGMA for inviting all of us and making this trip possible.
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