The president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros, held a meeting with the students of the Salvador Allende Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM), an institution that has established itself as a reference in the training of humanistic and supportive doctors.
Regarding this activity, the national president proposed the goal of training more than 10 thousand doctors from different parts of the world, as part of the effort to strengthen international cooperation in health matters.
The Minister of Popular Power for University Education, Ricardo Sánchez, highlighted that crystallizing the dream of Commanders Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro, and especially Salvador Allende, constitutes a point of honor.
He highlighted the opportunity to expand ELAM and the University of Health Sciences (UCS), which today are a national and international reference for their ability to train high-level doctors in various specialties.
He also pointed out that the goal of 10,000 international students is based on the capabilities of the Venezuelan university system, considered one of the most robust in the hemisphere.
He reported that currently 45 universities train professionals in different undergraduate and graduate careers in the area of health, in order to consolidate the UCS as a beacon of reference in this path.
The rector of ELAM, Dr. Carlos Alvarado, explained that the headquarters has 200 rooms for 600 students, 34 classrooms, auditoriums, laboratories, pharmacies and all the essential spaces to guarantee comprehensive training. Likewise, he emphasized that more than 1,600 students have been trained at this institution since its creation.
For his part, the rector of the UCS, Giovanni Peña, stated that the efforts are combined in the construction of the Patria Grande, in addition to ensuring that “the goal of 10 thousand students is sought to be achieved, but sooner rather than later the institution will reach 100 thousand students among the different advanced training programs (PNFA).”
He added that “it is important to note that, in the framework with the nations of the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, we also have fourth level studies such as the PNFA, with hundreds of students far and wide in different careers.” Peña noted that the first class of 82 students from five countries will soon graduate as comprehensive community doctors.
The main spokesperson of Equatorial Guinea expressed, on behalf of all the students, his gratitude to the head of State. “This shows the love that the Bolivarian people have towards the other peoples of the South. We will always be grateful to these Venezuelan people for this project that is for the good of the peoples who are being oppressed by the West.”
Likewise, President Maduro stated that “what we do for the people of the South will be returned in blessings to the people of Venezuela. In this spirit of Fidel, Chávez and Allende are giving health. We are the humanist, Bolivarian, Marti, revolutionary current of our America, we are the truth, the hope and we have to achieve the maximum expansion of the health plans.”
ELAM is a joint project of Cuba and Venezuela, conceived for the training of doctors with a humanistic vocation and a spirit of solidarity. Its educational model focuses on primary health care, disease prevention and the promotion of community well-being, with a strong emphasis on international cooperation. The initiative seeks to guarantee that graduated professionals are prepared to serve in places of greatest need, to contribute to the strengthening of health systems and the social development of people.
VTV/RIRV/DS/DB/
