SEMINAR ON THE CUBAN HEALTH MODEL AND WHAT PAKISTAN CAN LEARN FROM IT HELD AT THE PAKISTAN INSTITUTE FOR PARLIAMENTARY SERVICES (PIPS).
Mushahid Hussain Syed (Convener of the Pakistan-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group), Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari (Chairman, Foreign Affairs Committee), H.E. Ambassador of Cuba Gabriel Tiel Capote and Senator Shibli Faraz were amongst a host of government officials, health workers, students, and ministerial staffers who took part in the seminar on Cuban’s Health Model, which was organized by the Pakistan-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Group.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed welcomed the illustrious guests and emphasized on Pakistan-Cuban relations and outlined how the Parliamentary Friendship Group will be working this year to promote Cuban culture, which includes celebration of Fidel Castro’s birthday and a week-long cultural exchange.
“You must visit Cuba and see a strong nation. That strength comes from their strong backbone of education, health and law, which is why they were able to resist international pressure. But they did not achieve this overnight and worked extremely hard over the last few decades.”
“The Cuban healthcare system is the best amongst the 3rd world countries according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and their statistics are simply amazing, especially when compared to countries like Pakistan. Cuba has an under nutrition rate of 0.7% compared to Pakistan’s 34%, we are producing a nation of mentally and physically ill people, and our health care is abysmal with 1 doctor serving a population of 40,000, while the ideal ratio is 1 per 1000 according to prevailing WHO standards. On the other hand, Cuba has 1 doctor for 714 people, which speaks volumes about their commitment.”
On an ending note, Christina Von Sperling Afridi, founder of the Karim Khan Afridi Welfare Foundation (KKAWF) elaborated on the drug abuse problem being faced by the younger generation and how her organization was working to tackle the problem within Pakistan.
