Thank You, Cuba, for Your Excellent Medical Care

We recently vacationed in Cuba

As a retired person traveling overseas, we are careful about our unexpected medical expenses.
Therefore, before we travel, we always make sure we have purchased medical insurance prior to our travel . In fact, medical insurance coverage is a requirement for any traveler visiting Cuba.

We thank God that we never have to use the emergency medical service. I was amazed at Cuban's excellent medical care and service for me, a tourist to the country.
I had two experiences with the medical personnel while we were in Cuba.

Getting medical help was easier than I thought in Cuba

First, I had a paper cut on my thumb a couple of days prior to our arrival at our Cuban resort. It was hurting a little as it started to swell. I went to the resort's reception desk to ask for a bandage to cover this tiny cut.

To my surprise, the receptionist phoned the resort's nurse who came to fetch me. She took me to the resort's first aid station,  asked me to sit down, then she  took a close look at my thumb, proceeded to clean and sterilize the tiny cut carefully and thoroughly before she put a bandage on it. Wow! that was not what I had expected.

The second experience I had with the Cuban medical service was right at the airport on our last day in Cuba.  That day we spent a relaxing day at our resort and at 4:30pm, we boarded the shuttle bus  which took us to the Varadero Airport. There was plenty of time before our flight took off at 9pm.

Central Park, Havana, Cuba

While my husband was looking for the right counter to check in, my nose started to bleed.
I sat down on a bench and got some tissue to put over my nose. After a few minutes, my nose was still bleeding. I went into the washroom to get more paper towel.

A cleaning lady saw me with my bleeding nose; right away she called an airport personnel who escorted me to a medical clinic within the airport. A doctor and a couple of nurses were on duty that time. They asked me some very poignant medical questions, took my pulse, blood pressure and kept me calm.

With all the excitement of the day, I was quite stressed out and it showed in my blood pressure. The medical team kept me in the clinic for about an hour helping me to stop my stubborn nose bleed while monitoring my blood pressure to make sure I was well enough to board the plane.

Thank you, Cuba, for looking after me while I was visiting there!

I often have nose bleed in Canada and my family doctor does not think much of it. My husband and I were grateful and surprised that the Cuban medical team took my nose bleed so seriously and provided me with very good medical care. They discovered something about my medical health that our family doctor in Canada overlooked. For this, I am indebted to the medical team at the Varadero Airport.

Thank you, Cuba, for looking after us so well in your country! Your are awesome!

R.T.
Recently visited Cuba
From Toronto, Canada