(Maine's ag commissioner) Spear in critical condition in Cuba

[Mika]

Spear in critical condition in Cuba
http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=111706&z=500

Maine's agricultural commissioner remained hospitalized Thursday with a blood infection in Havana, Cuba, where he was listed in critical condition at the CIMEQ, or Center of Medical and Surgical Investigations. Gov. John E. Baldacci spoke briefly with Commissioner Robert Spear, who reportedly said doctors had advised him his condition was too fragile to risk a planned medical evacuation from the Cuban clinic Thursday to the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.

The 62-year-old Nobleboro dairy farmer collapsed in his hotel Tuesday night, according to Baldacci spokesman Lynn Kippax, who said Spear was in Cuba as a follow-up to last year's successful state trade mission.

-

Spear had apparently had some surgery to remove warts from his hand last week and that it became clear during the course of the weekend trip that his hand was not healing as well as it should have.

Spear felt increasingly ill on Sunday and Monday after arriving in Havana and was discovered on the floor of his room Tuesday evening by another member of the trade mission, according to Kippax.

The governor's spokesman said Spear's condition was not believed to be linked with any activity in Cuba. He described the condition as "life-threatening," adding Spear required dialysis to address kidney function problems.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Skin and blood infections

I just read about how certain skin infections - things that start out as minor nicks and scrapes - are morphing into deadly cases because our antibiotic-crazy medical profession has renedered our bodies breeding grounds for newly-virulent bacteria.

We are so screwed.

I hope this guy does all right, but, Cuba? Who wants to be caught with a life-threatening infection in Cuba?

[Mika]

2. Actually Cuba has a very good health care system

People from the world over go to Cuba for treatment (except Americans - who are banned by the US gov from doing so).

Cuba has more doctors per citizen than any other country.


Learn from Cuba
http://www.twnside.org.sg/title/learn.htm

“It is in some sense almost an anti-model,” according to Eric Swanson, the programme manager for the Bank’s Development Data Group, which compiled the WDI, a tome of almost 400 pages covering scores of economic, social, and environmental indicators.

Indeed, Cuba is living proof in many ways that the Bank’s dictum that economic growth is a pre-condition for improving the lives of the poor is over-stated, if not, downright wrong.

-

It has reduced its infant mortality rate from 11 per 1,000 births in 1990 to seven in 1999, which places it firmly in the ranks of the western industrialised nations. It now stands at six, according to Jo Ritzen, the Bank’s Vice President for Development Policy, who visited Cuba privately several months ago to see for himself.

By comparison, the infant mortality rate for Argentina stood at 18 in 1999;

Chile’s was down to ten; and Costa Rica, at 12. For the entire Latin American and Caribbean region as a whole, the average was 30 in 1999.

Similarly, the mortality rate for children under the age of five in Cuba has fallen from 13 to eight per thousand over the decade. That figure is 50% lower than the rate in Chile, the Latin American country closest to Cuba’s achievement. For the region as a whole, the average was 38 in 1999.

“Six for every 1,000 in infant mortality - the same level as Spain - is just unbelievable,” according to Ritzen, a former education minister in the Netherlands. “You observe it, and so you see that Cuba has done exceedingly well in the human development area.”

Indeed, in Ritzen’s own field, the figures tell much the same story. Net primary enrolment for both girls and boys reached 100% in 1997, up from 92% in 1990. That was as high as most developed nations - higher even than the US rate and well above 80-90% rates achieved by the most advanced Latin American countries.

“Even in education performance, Cuba’s is very much in tune with the developed world, and much higher than schools in, say, Argentina, Brazil, or Chile.”

It is no wonder, in some ways. Public spending on education in Cuba amounts to about 6.7% of gross national income, twice the proportion in other Latin American and Caribbean countries and even Singapore.

There were 12 primary school pupils for every Cuban teacher in 1997, a ratio that ranked with Sweden, rather than any other developing country. The Latin American and East Asian average was twice as high at 25 to one.

The average youth (age 15-24) illiteracy rate in Latin America and the Caribbean stands at 7%. In Cuba, the rate is zero. In Latin America, where the average is 7%, only Uruguay approaches that achievement, with one percent youth illiteracy.

“Cuba managed to reduce illiteracy from 40% to zero within ten years,” said Ritzen. “If Cuba shows that it is possible, it shifts the burden of proof to those who say it’s not possible.”

Similarly, Cuba devoted 9.1% of its gross domestic product (GDP) during the 1990s to health care, roughly equivalent to Canada’s rate. Its ratio of 5.3 doctors per 1,000 people was the highest in the world.

The question that these statistics pose, of course, is whether the Cuban experience can be replicated. The answer given here is probably not.

“What does it, is the incredible dedication,” according to Wayne Smith, who was head of the US Interests Section in Havana in the late 1970s and early 1980s and has travelled to the island many times since.

[Zuni]

18. What about lobotomizing the insane and homosexuals?

Until 10-15 years ago, Cuba lobotomized homosexuals and mentally ill people regularly. They had the highest lobotomy rate in the world.
Still homosexuality is considered a mental illness.

In communist countries, they often 'cook the books' to make it look like they have a higher standard of living than they really do. I bet Cuba's "miraculous system" so admired on DU is partly imaginary

[Judi Lynn]

24. Please post a link so others will know you're not blowing smoke.

I've never heard a word about lobotomizing homosexuals ever! That's a strange one. Someone must have been desperate to pull that one out of somewhere.

We need more than your claims about Cuba. Please provide sources.

[radwriter0555]

25. ACTUALLY it wasn't CASTRO doing that; ONE doctor has been accused of

committing abuse against psychiatric patients, with a total of 300 or so victims alleged.

Don't make it sound like Castro was playing mengele, because he wasn't. One doctor was playing kevorkian. That's it.

[Zerex71]

3. Those Communist bastards.

They must be part of the Axis of Evil. Do they have oil? Let's invade.

[zanne]

7. If Cuba had oil...

It would be the 51st state by now.

[Zerex71]

28. Actually it would be the 53rd state,

since we already own Israel and Iraq.

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. Ummmm CUBA is known worldwide for it's excellent doectors.

.
.
.

In fact, I believe they have more doctors around the world in different countries than any other country in the world.

I'd feel quite safe there . .

You ASKED!!

so

short answer would have been

"ME"

:shrug:

[ret5hd]

6. and me...for all of the above reasons.

my wish is that people would actually start to research the information given them by a government that they say they don't trust.

[Warpy]

8. Cuba lacks fancy technology

but their health care system has been a priority for several decades (unlike ours). The treatment he will get will be topnotch but low on computerized equipment. His IV antibiotics will be regulated by roller clamp instead of electronically based pump. Any surgery will be performed via scalpel instead of laser.

At least the Cubans get access to health care, unlike many of us here in the US who have been completely priced out of the system and are slowly being ignored to death.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

9. Is that right?

I did not know that about Cuba, so I thank you all for enlightening me.

In that case, he's probably in better hands there than he might be here. Isn't that something?

Thanks for your wonderful erudition. There's much to love on DU.........

[Mika]

10. Its the US Helms Burton law that mostly limits Cuba's health tech

The Helms Burton law is extraterritorrial in that it prevents products from being sold in both the US and Cuba. The companies must choose one market or the other. Of course, they choose the vastly larger and profitable US market. Cuba is working around this extreme limitation, and is working w/China on modern health tech. High tech is slowly spreading over the island - as much as the Cuban h-c system can afford.

[Zenlitened]

12. I'm not convinced that doctors are to blame for...

... anti-biotic-resistant bacteria. The cattle, poultry, and pig industries are much more to blame, in my view, for dousing the animals with anti-biotics from the moment they're born until the day they're sent to slaughter. I think that's a MUCH bigger problem.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

19. That, too

But I've had to stop MDs from trying to give my kids antibiotics for simple colds. They're just not thinking, or else it's couched in "preventive" measures, as in, "Well, if this turns into an ear infection," blah blah blah. And my kids were never big consumers of meat and/or poultry.

You're right, yes. A friend of mine who is dangerously allergic to tetracyclin got deathly ill after a steak dinner in a restaurant. Anaphylactic shock, which made no sense, but a smart EMT told them it was probably a loaded piece of beef - loaded with antibiotics.

Scary.

[CottonBear]

5. He will receive excellent care in Cuba.

We should be so lucky here in the USA. They have some of the best physicians and surgeons in the world and an almost 100% literate population.

I hope he recovers.

[Zuni]

11. we have a higher literacy rate than Cuba

according to the 2005 Almanac, and the US has some of the best doctors and medical scientists in the world

[David__77]

14. Not among those under 65.

Among those under 65, Cuba has higher literacy. Many older people grew up under the old system in which many working people could not afford to go to school. That the rates are even similar is testament to Cuba's rapid progress on the educational front.

[Zuni]

16. I don't have the almanac here

but I remember looking it up because a DUer made a similar comment once. I can't remember the exact numbers, but the US had about 98% literacy and Cuba had 97%. Most countries have literacy rates above 95% percent. very few have very low rates.

Many 3rd world countries have 95% literacy rates or better. And 40+ years is not rapid progress. The US literacy rate has risen sharply too in the same time period, as has much of the world. Much of Latin America has comparable educational standards to Cuba.

And for all the accolades given Castro here, it must be remembered that Cuba is the 2nd poorest country in Latin America. Until 10-15 years ago, homosexuals and mentally ill were routinely lobotomized, a practice that belies their supposed medical expertise.

[kevsand]

21. It didn't take 40 years to reach those literacy levels.

Cuba's biggest gains were in the first ten or fifteen years. They've had marks nearly this high for at least twenty years, if not more. I was there in 1989, and saw much of this first hand.

Their treatment of homosexuals and the mentally ill was definitely very troubling and an area of great concern, as has also been the case in the USA.

[Vladimir]

26. 2nd poorest? Depends on the statistics you use I guess...

http://globalis.gvu.unu.edu/indicator.cfm?IndicatorID=50&Country=CU#rowCU

http://globalis.gvu.unu.edu/indicator.cfm?Country=CU&IndicatorID=98

http://globalis.gvu.unu.edu/indicator.cfm?Country=CU&IndicatorID=99

[billbuckhead]

27. Cuba compares very well to the Red states in healthcare

and education. When you take the Northeast, the west coast and Midwest out of American statistics, our bragging rights go out the window verry quickly. TeXXXas is the world's richest third world nation.

[Vladimir]

15. Sure it does - if you can pay for them n/t

[kevsand]

17. And some of the worst health care metrics

of any industrialized nation. IIRC, the U.S. is way down on the charts in infant mortality and life expectancy. Not to mention the absurd number of uninsured. And now we're cutting Medicaid, leaving a bigger chunk of people to fall between the gaps...

[Zuni]

20. Am I arguing with that?

I did not say the US Medical Insurance systemn was desirable. It is one of the main reasons I hated Bush to begin with.

[kevsand]

23. I think we're agreeing here.

We certainly have some of the best health care providers anywhere. I just think that statement should always be put in context, particularly when it's a context that we obviously all can see.

[mom cat]

13. Hope that it is not NNFF as was the case for our dear Matson.

[guajira]

22. Cuba Has Oil - I've Posted This about 20 Times!!

Americans are very uninformed about Cuba. I'm reading unbelievable propaganda on this thread alone!!

snippet:
For the tenth year in a row oil production in the Caribbean nation maintains its growth, which in year 2003 was of 3,7%. For the year that has just started the greatest perspectives of growing will be focused on the production of natural gas destined to home services which will be undoubtedly beneficial for the Island’s population.
more...

http://www.cubaminrex.cu/English/Look_Cuba/Economy/economy_Cuban%20Oil%20Production%20to%20Increase%20in%20an%208%25%20in%20Year%202004.htm

[Mika]

29. Next "fact" we'll see on this thread about Cuba.. CHUPACABRA

}(


http://www.oftm.com/chupa.html

[Judi Lynn]

30. Update on article:Spear moved to Florida hospital

Spear moved to Florida hospital
Saturday, April 09, 2005 - Bangor Daily News

AUGUSTA - Maine Agricultural Commissioner Robert Spear was transported Friday afternoon to a hospital intensive care unit in Miami after spending two days in Cuban hospitals battling a blood infection.

"The commissioner will face a battery of tests throughout the night," said Lynn Kippax, spokesman for Gov. John E. Baldacci. "The doctors are interested in his kidney function and the level of infection that persists."

Kippax said it was believed the blood infection that precipitated Spear's collapse Tuesday had lessened. The 62-year-old Nobleboro dairy farmer was described by Cuban doctors Thursday as being in critical condition, Kippax said, adding that Spear's situation was then believed to be "life-threatening," but not connected to any of his activities in Cuba.

Kippax said Friday that Spear arrived at the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fla., at around 2:30 p.m. and was joined by his wife, Janet, and son, Jeffery. He said Spear's condition remained unknown late Friday afternoon and would likely be established after further medical tests.

"His son, Jeffery, told us that his father was still feeling weak, but that he was alert and talking," Kippax said.
(snip/...)

http://www.bangornews.com/news/templates/?a=111825&z=5



Commissioner Robert Spear