Soon after Hugo Chave was elected president in 1998, the first Cuban Doctors under the Barrio Adentro Programme (Inside the Community) arrived in Venezuela. They have served over a million patients, 25% of them in their own homes. Cuban doctors provided basic health care and education to millions  of Venezuelan in areas where People had little or no access to medical services. The Venezuelan Medical Federation denounced the programme and asked the courts to bar the Cuban Doctors from practising. On the 21st of August 2003, the First Administrative Court obliged, ruling in favour of the Medical Federation request, a decision the Venezuelan government appealed. Yet no Doctor left their community.

 

Dr. Andres Hernandes arrived at the end of 2002 from Cuba to the large working class Barrio “23rd de Enero”. He became  a vital part of the running of the community, educating the locals in hygiene practices and immunisations. He made an impressive impact on the number of people suffering from water borne diseases and parasites. He will remain here for an indefinite period of time before he returns to his home country, relying on the people of the Barrio for food and shelter. This project was shot over a period of 8 months.

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2004