On November 8, Venezuela’s Minister of the Office of the President, Car­men Meléndez, highlighted the advances stemming from the Cuba-Ve­ne­zuela health agreement seen over the last 14 years.
 
Bi-national cooperation efforts have contributed to strengthening healthcare services in both countries, thanks to professional exchanges and the training of doctors, stated the official during her “Gestión del Pueblo” program, broadcast on Radio Miraflores.
 
“We have been creating spaces and training doctors in response to our people’s health needs,” she stated, according to PL.
Meléndez added that the Bolivarian government is aiming to take Misión Barrio Adentro (Into the neighborhoods) to all of the country’s states, as well as extend medical care in the most vulnerable and remote communities.
 
Seven hundred thousand free medical consultations have been carried out across Venezuela since the creation of the mission 14 years ago, with collaboration from the Cuban government.
 
On November 7, vice president of Social Development and Revolutionizing the Missions, Jorge Arreaza, stated that these systems launched by the Venezuelan government, which provide social benefits to the population, also help to transform the structure of the country’s society.
 
“The missions and great social missions are the essence of co­mandante Chávez,” he stated, speaking to Venezolana de Tele­vision from a theater in Caracas, where a high-level conference addressing issues related to these social programs was taking place.
 
Arreaza noted that President Nicolás Maduro has continued, strengthened, and created new social missions aimed at improving the well-being of the people, while also highlighting that such measures are constantly being reviewed in order to constantly improve their implementation and functioning at a grass roots level.
 
He recalled that the Venezuelan head of state has promoted programs to eradicate poverty, improve housing and the standard of living in the most vulnerable communities, reported Prensa Latina.