Cuba/Jamaica cancer care pact on horizon

(Jamaica Observer) NEW YORK — Jamaica is to see significant benefits in its health-care programme with assistance from Cuba, following three days of talks between health minister Dr Fenton Ferguson and Cuban officials which ended last Friday.

Dr Ferguson, who delivered the keynote address at the 28th annual awards banquet of the Jamaica National Movement here Saturday, told the Jamaica Observer in an interview that the talks produced agreements in areas “not-before explored”.

Cuba and Jamaica share a longstanding co-operation agreement on health care with the island’s Spanish-speaking neighbours providing low cost specialised medical treatment to Jamaicans and supplying a steady stream of medical personnel to work in local hospitals and clinics.

Dr Ferguson said he could not divulge details about the new cooperation agreement at this time, as he first had to report to Cabinet.

However, the minister indicated that one area of improvement which could come as a result of the Cuban talks is that of cancer treatment, an area he said government is giving priority attention.