Joramu Nkumbi = Hotuba ya Zanzibar, Ujumbe kwa Madaktari

Fidel Castro, the former leader of Cuba, placed a strong emphasis on healthcare and the role of medical professionals. Under his leadership, Cuba developed one of the world’s most renowned healthcare systems, emphasizing universal access, medical education, and international medical aid. Here are some of his notable quotes on health and medical doctors:

1. On the Role of Doctors in Society
• “Doctors and health workers are the greatest treasure of a nation.”
• “A doctor must be a revolutionary, an apostle, and a creator of a better world.”

2. On Universal Healthcare
• “Healthcare is not a commodity; it is a fundamental human right.”
• “We do not have billionaires, but we do have something more valuable: a nation where no child dies due to lack of medical care.”

3. On Cuban Medical Internationalism
• “Cuba is not sending doctors to the world to make money; we are sending soldiers of life.”
• “While others send soldiers to war, we send doctors to save lives.”
• (Referring to Cuban medical aid to Africa and Latin America) “We have trained thousands of doctors, not for profit, but for humanity.”

4. On the Responsibility of Medical Professionals
• “A true doctor does not treat only diseases; he treats the human being with dignity and compassion.”
• “The duty of a doctor is not just to heal, but to prevent suffering and improve the quality of life.”

5. On the Success of Cuban Healthcare
• “The wealth of Cuba is not in gold or oil; it is in our doctors, our scientists, and our educated people.”
• “We may be a small island, but in health and education, we are a global power.”

Fidel Castro’s healthcare policies made Cuba a global leader in medical training, universal healthcare, and medical diplomacy, sending thousands of doctors worldwide to aid underserved communities.