HAITI
FACTS
Health workers: 348
Cumulative: 8,000 (estimated)
Mission status: Active
AGREEMENTS
MOST RECENT AGREEMENT
DURATION: 2 years
STARTED: 2018
AGREEMENT SIGNER: Haitian Ministry
of Public Health and Population
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Geographic areas: 134 of 140
communes
Health areas: Epidemiology,
hygiene, general comprehensive
medicine, ophthalmology, nursing,
and disease control experts
Contracts obtained: NO
Agreement obtained: NO
Current facts:
• Active personnel: 345
• Defections: 500 (estimated)
• Did not return to Cuba: 500 (est.)
• Prohibited from returning to
Cuba: 150 (est.)
Official statistics available: Yes
Most relevant violations:
Confiscation of passports,
mandatory housing placement, not
allowed to stay overnight outside of
residence without permission,
curfew, prohibited from conducting
relations with nationals, restrictions
on movement within the country,
monitoring by supervisors and
colleagues, not paid full salary
during holidays and vacations.

SUMMARY

Cuba’s medical cooperation with Haiti began in 1998 after Hurricane George struck the Caribbean nation to devastating effect, including in its capital. Even though Cuba and Haiti had not maintained diplomatic relations for more than 36 years, Cuba immediately offered 100 professionals and a cooperation agreement covering various issues, the most important being in the public health area. The agreement provided for the deployment of Cuban doctors to every part of the nation and for the training of Haitian students in Cuba. In May 1999, the first group of Haitian students began their studies at the Latin American School of Medicine in Cuba. In 2001, Cuba sent doctors to teach at the University of Medicine created by President Jean Bertrand Aristide (these also practiced medicine in addition to teaching). In 2004, after tropical storm Jeanne struck the city of Gonaives, a 64-doctor brigade joined the workers already in the country; and in 2005, Operation Miracle was launched in Haiti. Each worker’s monthly salary is between $250-300 USD. Today, 24 Cuban health workers, part of the Henry Reeve Medical Brigade, are in Haiti supporting the response to Covid-19. Cuba’s medical services in Haiti have been structured through agreements involving third countries such as Norway, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and Canada, which provide financial assistance to guarantee the provision of health services in Haiti. In the case of Norway, this agreement went into effect in 2010, providing, through 2012, a total of $2.5 million USD.

DOCUMENTED CASES

Anonymous: 13
Documented Violations: Yes
Not anonymous: None
Public (media): None

Findings: Confiscation of passports, mandatory housing placement, not allowed to stay overnight
outside of residence without permission, curfew, prohibited from conducting relations with
nationals, restrictions on movement within the country, monitoring by supervisors and colleagues,
not paid full salary during holidays and vacations

 

NAMES OF CHIEFS OF MISSIONS

Dr. Luis Orlando Oliveros, Chief of Medical Brigade (January 2020)
Dr. Evelio Betancourt, Chief of Cuban Medical Brigade, 2016-2020
Dr. Lorenzo Somarriba López, Chief of Medical Brigade, 2011
Dr. Alexis Díaz Ortega, Chief of Henry Reeve Medical Brigade, 2016

RELEVANT NEWS ARTICLES AND OTHER ITEMS

MOST RELEVANT NEWS
Médicos Cubanos, por la salud en Haití
Jefe de la brigada médica en Haití culmina su misión
Brigada médica cubana en Haití muestra excelente balance de casos atendidos
Cuba y Haití unidos por fraternales lazos
Partió brigada médica del contingente Henry Reeve hacia Haití
Firman Cuba y Haití acuerdos de cooperación
Noruega y Cuba refuerzan cooperación humanitaria en Haití
Cuba ha salvado miles de vidas haitiana y seguiremos haciéndolo
La Cooperación Médica Cubana en Haití
Other media may be available in the repository