Brazilian doctors launch solidarity campaign with Cuba

Brasil de Fato

Brazilian doctors who graduated from the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) in Havana have launched a solidarity campaign to collect medicine donations for Cuba. 

This initiative comes in the context of the 25th anniversary of ELAM, a medical school based in Havana that has helped thousands of people from different regions of the world, especially from the most disadvantaged places, study medicine to help their communities. 

In an interview with Brasil de Fato, Carmen Diniz, a jurist and coordinator of the Comitê Carioca de Solidariedade a Cuba e às Causas Justas (Carioca Committee for Solidarity with Cuba and Just Causes in a rough translation) says that the campaign is motivated by a “feeling of gratitude to Cuba” because the vast majority of young Brazilians who went to study medicine at ELAM “could not have studied medicine here in Brazil, because it is an elitist and expensive career.” 

“ELAM is very important, especially in poor places with no access to health care. The medical course in Cuba teaches, above all, humanism. It’s different from other courses in capitalist countries. Fidel Castro used to say: ‘Let’s train men of science with a conscience.’ I think that defines ELAM well,” she adds. 

The school opened its doors for the first time in 1999 after hurricanes George and Mitch caused a catastrophe in the Caribbean region that resulted in the loss of more than 10,000 lives. Cuba’s initial aim with the creation of ELAM was to help train doctors in the countries hit by hurricanes. Over time, the project spread to different regions of the world, and students came from other parts of Latin America, expanding to Africa—an area in which Cuba has historically forged ties—and even from the United States. 

ELAM has trained around 31,000 doctors from almost 120 countries, including more than a thousand Brazilians. 

“Righteous action supporting the country that has always supported everyone” 

From 2007 to 2013, Leandro Nascimento studied medicine at ELAM. Prior to this, he had never left Brazil. Just as he was about to finish high school, he received a scholarship to study in Cuba. Thanks to a grassroots movement that recommended him, Leandro was given the opportunity, and currently, he is one of the doctors coordinating the solidarity initiative for ELAM’s 25th anniversary. 

In an interview with Brasil de Fato, Nascimento recalls the period in Cuba as “very enriching years” during which he had the opportunity to “experience the Cuban revolution with all its social proposals that we don’t see in our capitalist countries.” 

“Cuba has always had a proposal of collaboration and solidarity for the world, which has always made it a reference point. So, living this experience of solidarity, communion, and collaboration from the inside was very enriching. I think it was an experience that filled our dreams that a better world is possible.” 

“Cuba needs support” Leandro Nascimento affirms due to the island’s current economic crisis. 

“After the Covid-19 pandemic took away the country’s main economic income, which is tourism, and in a context where the blockade continues to suffocate the island, with the measures that Trump has implemented, there is a scenario of scarcity. I believe that after everything Cuba has done for so many people worldwide, today, it’s our turn to take righteous action, supporting the country that has always supported everyone,” he adds. 

The Cuba solidarity campaign collects donations to send medicines and medical supplies to the country. The donations will be delivered during Havana’s 1st International Congress of Graduates of the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM), held between November 11 and 15, 2024. 

Donations can be made through cubasolidariedade@gmail.com