From Cooperation to Capacitation

Cuban Medical Internationalism in the South Pacific

Bibliographic Data

ID22326306
AuthorsChris Walker (0000-0001-5543-5878, Dalhousie University), Chris Walker Chris Walker, John M Kirk (0000-0002-7792-3191, Dalhousie University), John M Kirk John M Kirk
Year2013
Volume5
Issue1
Publication date2013-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Cuban Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1756-3461 • E-ISSN: 1756-347X
PublisherPluto Journals (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.13169/intejcubastud.5.1.0010
OpenAlexW1534399414
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited14

This article analyses Cuba's medical missions in the South Pacific and specifically in Timor-Leste (East Timor), the largest outside of Latin America. Here, the adaptation of Cuba's low-technology and low-resourced preventive-focused medical model (based on the development of human capital) is used to highlight lessons regarding effective medical cooperation. This article finds that these lessons should be drawn from the dynamic and creative adaptations of the Cuban medical model, which are assisting South Pacific medical systems by scaling up primary care workforces to target previously underserved areas. Thus, the contribution of Cuban medical personnel, bolstered by the education of indigenous South Pacific students (trained by Cuban professors, both in Havana and locally) has developed into unique medical models for South Pacific nations. Such models of cooperation are also clearly adaptable elsewhere

Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Indigenous · Latin Americans · Pacific Rim · Political science · Caribbean history, culture, and politics · Cuban History and Society · Philippine History and Culture