This 2024 we have carried out

Exploratory Mission to Cuba

Dr. Isabel Giralt- Sampedro and Dr. Daniel Ménè -López

June 20, at the United Nations headquarters, first meeting with those responsible for the health area of ​​the Department of Natural and Traditional Medicine of Cuba

Attending were Dr. Johann Perdomo- Director of the Natural and Traditional Medicine of Cuba-, Dr. Evelyn Anie González -President of the Cuban Society of Bioenergy and Naturalist Medicine- and members of the board.

During the event we signed a statement of intent:

Agreement of intent document

Santiago de Cuba, 24th of June – After a long, two-day journey on Cuban roads, we began classes on June 24th in the morning with a meeting and introductory presentations.

We were greeted by the Vice Rector of the University of Medical Sciences, Dr. C Adolfo Lambert -Delgado.

Next came the Opening Event with Dr. Milagros Cusa, professor and Head of International Relations of the University of Medical Sciences, in the absence of Enriqueta Cedeño – Head of the Chair of Natural and Traditional Medicine of the School of Medicine-, with whom we had first made contact to arrange the trip. Present at the event were the 25 students who would attend the course as well as students invited by the School of Medicine and the Natural and Traditional Medicine specialty.

From the 25th to 28th we gave theoretical-practical classes at the School of Medicine of the University of Medical Sciences in Santiago de Cuba.

On the afternoon of the 28th we concluded the course with the presence of Dr. Milagros Cusa and the Rector of the University Dr. Migdalia Fernández- Villalón.
During our stay we donated to the university some 6000 new, sterilized acupuncture needles, 30 moxa (mugwort), an electric stimulation machine, a female dummy with acupuncture points indicated, photocopies of lecture notes and bibliography information.

Class Subject Matter: Theoretical-practical classes on pain treatment with acupuncture.

Students: 25 medical, nursing and dentistry students. Very high level of knowledge of the acupuncture indications, classic foundations and treatment methods.

We conducted theoretical and practical classes at three different hospitals and dealt with a total of approximately 30 patients, some on two occasions for follow-up evaluation. In general, the results were very good and patients as well as students were very satisfied.

Overall Situation: The general situation in Cuba is poor: there is insufficient good quality food, a shortage of medications, no acupuncture needles in hospitals and inadequate transportation.

Building and hospital structures are dilapidated, perhaps with the exception of the sports medicine hospital which is in better condition. It seems that international-level athletes come for treatment which contributes additional resources. The sports medicine hospital even has two ozone dispensers so they often use ozone therapy on acupuncture points.

It was very difficult to arrive at Santiago de Cuba from Havanna due to the inadequacy of transportation and lack of gasoline. It is our impression that there are more deficiencies in the eastern part of the country.

Overall Impression of the Acupuncture Professionals: Our impression is that the students that attended the course had a very good level of knowledge of Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture. However, they cannot put that knowledge into practice due to a lack of resources: each health center has only 10 needles to treat patients and these needles must be re-sterilized. They also lack gloves, alcohol, and other essential medical tools.

In Cuba, physicians who have their degree in Medicine can specialize in Natural and Traditional Medicine in three years. Other health specialties involve studying a master’s in that area.

In general medicine centers, it is mandatory to use and report a 42% of Natural and Traditional Medicine treatments.

Future Needs and Projects: With relation to acupuncture needs in Cuba, it is not so much knowledge but rather practice sessions, material and books. Perhaps in the future, classes can be given via electronic media, finding a way to deliver material to them or go there with material and classes every two or three years.