CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Friday, October 23, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- PSYCHOHABANA '98 WINDS UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL 2.- PANAMA'S HEALTH MINISTER SAYS CUBA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS AN EXAMPLE FOR THE CONTINENT 3.- CUBAN AMBASSADOR TO URUGUAY OUTLINES THE ISLAND'S ROLE IF ACCEPTED IN THE LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION ASSOCIATION 4.- REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW YORK CATHOLIC HOSPITALS VISIT THE ISLAND 5.- U.S. NEWSPAPER EDITORS VISIT THE CUBAN CAPITAL PSYCHOHABANA '98 WINDS UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, October 23(RHC)-- Psychohabana '98 has wound up at Havana's Convention Center with the participation of over one thousand delegates from 40 countries. Participants at the conference played particular attention to the analysis and definition of insanity and depressive disorders. Also during the event, Dr. Eduardo Bernabe Ordaz, Director of Havana's Psychiatry Hospital, was elected president of the Latin American Psychiatry Association. Observers at the conference recognized Cuba's contribution in the field of psychiatry and referred to the island as a model of rehabilitation for mental patients. The President of the Institute of Spanish-speaking Psychiatrists, Francisco Alonso Fernandez, pointed out that Washington's blockade against Cuba "is a form of torture." PANAMA'S HEALTH MINISTER SAYS CUBA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IS AN EXAMPLE FOR THE CONTINENT Havana, October 23(RHC)-- The Cuban health care system is an example for the Americas, according to Panama's Health Minister Libia Moreno who took part in the Psychohabana '98. Dr. Moreno traveled to Cuba -- not in her capacity as health minister, but as a psychiatrist -- to attend the event at Havana's Convention Center this week. The Panamanian official said one of the biggest challenges for Latin American psychiatrists is to achieve a humane and integral system for its mental patients in the next millennium. She added that many countries in the region want to emulate Cuba's example in the field in an attempt to improve their own health care systems. CUBAN AMBASSADOR TO URUGUAY OUTLINES THE ISLAND'S ROLE IF ACCEPTED IN THE LATIN AMERICAN INTEGRATION ASSOCIATION Montevideo, October 23(RHC)-- According to the Cuban Ambassador to Uruguay, Manuel Aguilera, the time has come for the island to become a formal member of the Latin American Integration Association and it seems that its member nations believe the same. During a news conference in Montevideo, the Cuban ambassador said that Cuba's integration will play an important role in relations between the island and the rest of the continent. Cuba's inclusion in the Latin American Integration Association, added the Cuban official, would be an important political victory against Washington's nearly 40 year blockade against the island. The Cuban ambassador to Uruguay analyzed the recent United Nations General Assembly vote in favor of a resolution condemning the economic blockade against Cuba and stressed that the U.S. is completely isolated in its anti-Cuba policy. Manuel Aguilera also talked about the international repercussions of Cuban President Fidel Castro's participation at the recently concluded Iberoamerican Summit that took place in Oporto, Portugal as well as his visit to the Spanish autonomous region of Extremadura. REPRESENTATIVES OF NEW YORK CATHOLIC HOSPITALS VISIT THE ISLAND Havana, October 23(RHC)-- During a meeting with Cuban Health Minister Carlos Dotres in Havana, representatives of New York Catholic Hospitals said they are interested in cooperating in Cuba's health sector. The delegation is headed by the Director of New York's Catholic Hospitals Network, Dr. Mary Elizabeth Healy Sedutto. The President of Saint Clair Hospital in New York City, James Rutherford, referred to the exchange of specialists in the field of infectious diseases and scientific documentation as a review for health personnel. Dr. Rutherford characterized Cuba's health care system as "impressive" and praised the level of primary health care. Cuba's Health Minister Carlos Dotres explained the characteristics of the island's health care system and the effects of the U.S. blockade. Members of the delegation from New York City are touring hospitals in Matanzas province and are scheduled to visit health institutions in Havana on Saturday. The group will wind up their tour of the island on Sunday. U.S. NEWSPAPER EDITORS VISIT THE CUBAN CAPITAL Havana, October 23 (RHC)-- A delegation from the U.S. Association of Newspaper Editors exchanged opinions Thursday in Havana with employees of the island's Granma newspaper. The 32 newspaper editors -- headed by Edward Seatson -- asked questions about how the newspaper is run and its role in current Cuban society. Granma Director Frank Aguero and members of the administration met with the U.S. newspaper editors and answered their questions. Earlier, the group met with Cuban Foreign Minister Roberto Robaina, who told the newspaper professionals that Cuba has no objection to providing information about Cuba to editors in the United States as long as they approach the island with respect. Robaina talked with the delegation about a variety of topics, including U.S.-Cuba relations. Last night, the newspaper editors held meetings with the President of the Cuban Parliament Ricardo Alarcon and Justice Minister Roberto Diaz Sotolongo. Association President Edward Seatson said that the group hoped to meet with Cuban President Fidel Castro before ending their stay on Sunday and planned to visit Cuba's number one tourist resort, Varadero Beach, on Saturday. [c] 1998, Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 791053 Fax: (53) (7) 795007 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org