[Via Communist Internet... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] . .FIDEL CASTRO PRESIDES OVER THE OPENING OF PEDIATRICS CONFERENCE Havana, June 13 (RHC)--Cuban President Fidel Castro presided over the opening session of the Pediatrics 2001 conference, held Wednesday morning at Havana's Convention Center. During his address before more than 1500 delegates from 14 countries participating in the meeting, the Cuban leader focused on the relationship between education and health care, and pointed out that had it not been for the 1961 Literacy Campaign, Cuba would not have the health indicators it has today. Fidel said that in Cuba, all citizens have their health care services guaranteed free of charge, while in other nations this doesn't happen. He said that in the United States, for example, 43 million people are without health insurance. He added that the quality of life of a nation is also measured by its health care indicators, and that the Cuban government has prioritized health care despite its economic problems, mainly due to the US blockade and to the collapse of the former socialist block. In this regard, the Cuban leader said that among the many programs underway on the island is one for children from birth to 15 years of age, who are now being measured and weighed in order to detect any case of malnutrition, whether it is due to medical conditions, lack of the necessary food or social problems. Fidel also announced that this year another 2,000 students will join the 5,000 already studying at Havana's Latin American School of Medicine; enrollment is expected to increase slowly to 10,000. Tomorrow, nearly two thousand schools newly electrified with solar power will be inaugurated. From now on, Fidel said, those children will be able to watch educational and recreational television programs, noting that installation of the solar panels was completed in just eight months. Also present at the opening session of Pediatrics 2001 were Cuban Health Minister, Dr. Carlos Dotres and the General Secretary of the World Health Organization, Norwegian Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland.
