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• 09 / 04 / 2008

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During a press conference in Guatemala City on Tuesday, Colom said that at the initiative of his Panamanian counterpart Martin Torrijos the countries making up the Central American Integration System (SICA) plus Mexico are considering the purchase of as many pharmaceuticals as possible at the Cuban market.

Cuba is producing lots of pharmaceuticals, which are cheap enough, said the Guatemalan President, as cited by different international news agencies. Colom pointed out that he is looking for more Cuban assistance in the health care field in order to increase the number of Cuban doctors in his country, particularly in rural areas.

Also on Tuesday, the Guatemalan President also expressed his thankfulness to the Cuban government and people for their nearly 10-year assistance in the fields of health care and the training of human resources.

Colom welcomed 58 Guatemalan doctors who graduated at the Havana-based Latin American School of Medicine. The new professionals will join a local program aimed at reducing the maternal death rate.

Guatemala is the Central American country showing the worst maternal death rate, with 153 deaths per every 100 births. At present, over 300 Cuban health professionals are working in the Central American nation.

(Adelante.cu)