An emblem of the PT program, Mais Médicos will return to exercise in a new format in President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s third time period. Revised by the Jair Bolsonaro (PL) administration in 2019, this system turned identified for transporting Cuban medical doctors to distant areas of Brazil.
When Cuba dismantled this system after heavy criticism from Bolsonaro, Cuban medical doctors based mostly in Brazil – some with households and even naturalized – selected to remain in the nation, hoping to return to follow if the PT returned to energy.
Lula received, however his new authorities didn’t intend to mechanically rehire the Cubans who remained in the nation. Preference will probably be given to Brazilians or foreigners who’ve handed Revlida, an evaluation that regularizes the diplomas of medical doctors educated overseas – a requirement that didn’t exist in the primary model of this system.
Optimist with Lula, JFour Cubans in susceptible conditions inform their tales on UOL:
Maria Carridade Morales Gonzales, 60, turned a cleaner
I used to be born in Holguín in the east of Cuba and moved to Havana to review once I was 14 years outdated. At the age of 24, I entered the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Havana: a six-year course, three specializing in medical drugs and three extra in allergy and immunology.
I’ve a daughter who got here to Brazil on the age of 20, acquired married and stayed. Since I’ve a granddaughter, I signed up for Mais Médicos to stay along with her in Brazil.
I got here in 2015 to work in Divinolandia, 490 km from São Paulo. I liked working on the UBS (fundamental well being unit) in the middle and in the fields: the ambulance would take me and convey me again. He stayed the entire day, even having lunch on the sufferers’ houses.
The authorities paid BRL 2,500 and City Hall one other BRL 3,000. We Cubans usually are not bold, I lived properly, dressed properly and acquired by.”
After breaking apart with Bolsonaro, Cuba wished to take me again, however I selected to stick with my household. I attempted to seek out a job in a pharmacy, however I could not, and I moved to São Caetano do Sul, close to my daughter.
I labored as a cleansing girl for a whereas, however I’m 60 years outdated and I can not bear the ache in my again?? Then I began as a caregiver, however I wanted the power to wash a 79-year-old man and nonetheless clear the home, make lunch and dinner.
Now I’m unemployed. I’ve been a graduate for 36 years and hope to return to my occupation. I examine the issues of Brazilians, who’ve hypertension, pancreatitis and persona problems.
Ovidio Lediam Viggiani Sierra, 36, Uber driver
I graduated from the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Maybach in 2011: six years of drugs, then three specializing in inner drugs. I got here to Brazil in 2014.
I used to be despatched to the well being middle in Campinas (SP): I labored till 5 pm taking care of the integral well being of the inhabitants. We additionally noticed fourth and sixth yr medical college students at Unicamp (University of Campinas).
At that point, I had about R$3,000 from my wage and allowance from City Hall. After they closed this system, I returned to Cuba. I packed my paperwork and returned in 2021 with my spouse and nine-year-old daughter hoping to return to Mes Medicos.
After shedding his job as a physician, Cuban Ovidio Sierra took a job hauling ice, however now helps his household with Uber.
Image: Personal archive
I took the paperwork to the federal government, however they advised me they now not rent Cubans. Then I began searching for a job.
First I used to be a carer for the aged, then I labored in an ice manufacturing unit?? I did not cease as a result of it was exhausting work: eight hours in sub-zero temperatures to earn R$80 a day. I did not examine that tough.
Since I’ve a Brazilian license, I began utilizing Uber six months in the past. I begin working at 6:30 am and go till 6:00 pm. I make R$2,500 monthly, however I pay for automobile hire and fuel.
When a buyer acknowledges me, he will get scared. They say they wish to return me to the submit. Even the Bolsonaristas say the advantage of the PT have been the Cuban medical doctors.
If the federal government hires me once more, all the pieces will probably be superb. I’ll have the cash for the Revlida check [as duas etapas custam R$ 4.516] Don’t rely upon anybody else. Then the cash goes to the household. My spouse is 5 and a half months pregnant!
Octavio Isidoro Cuba Gallo, 58, unemployed
I graduated from Ilha Clara Institute of Medicine in 1992. I’ve three specialties: main care, geriatrics and intensive care in the ICU.
I’m from the primary Cuban group that arrived in Brazil in 2013. I used to be despatched to the well being middle of Jaboatão de Guararapes (PE), the place I handled 40 sufferers a day from 7 am to 4 pm. I acquired about R$2,900, and Cuba acquired R$9,000.
I attempted to save lots of, however that cash was gone after I used to be fired when Bolsonaro and Cuba collapsed. As I married and naturalized, I remained in Brazil ready to return to Meis Medicos.
A health care provider since 1992, Octavio Cuba Gallo has three specialties, however at the moment he lives in a favela in Pernambuco.
Image: Personal archive
My life simply acquired worse. I acquired separated from my spouse and now I am unable to discover work. I’m going to the pharmacy, workplace, however they are saying that they don’t make use of as a result of of greater training.
I went into despair as a result of I could not pay the hire. A affected person right here in Jaboatão lent me a home. It is positioned in a slum on a hill. He was going to go away the home, however he noticed that I had nowhere to go and he lent it to me.
It rained not too long ago and the mud coming down the hill broke by way of the again door and got here into the lounge. I’m afraid, however with out this home I’ll stay on the road.
My former sufferers assist me. One brings a package deal of rice, one other of beans, meat, flour… Today I’ve lunch, tomorrow I do not know.”
My dream is to return to work as a physician. I’ll purchase home or condo with wage. You do not know what I’m like. Sometimes I cry alone.
Cuban physician Octavio Gallo now lives in two rooms in a favela in Pernambuco
Image: Personal archive
Orlando Cruz Martinez, 53, cook dinner
I graduated in 1993 from the Faculty of Medical Sciences in Cienfuegos. I labored in Cuba till 2000, once I started to be despatched to worldwide missions in Gambia, Guatemala, Bolivia, Guyana. He accomplished the mission and returned to Cuba.
In 2014, I used to be invited to work in Brazil. First I went to Ipiranga do Piauí (PI) after which to Gama (DF), a satellite tv for pc metropolis in Brasilia the place I stayed till November 2018.
I did all the pieces on submit [de saúde]: Prenatal Care, Emergency Care. Relationship with sufferers was nice. Every day I acquired some thanks from Lokpal. The wage was good, however it’s difficult to save lots of, as a result of the usual of dwelling in Brazil could be very excessive.
Graduated in 1993, Doctor Orlando Martinez has practiced in many international locations all over the world, however his final job in Brazil was as a cook dinner.
Image: Personal archive
But life has been hell ever for the reason that contract ended. In 2018, I labored promoting vehicles for 4 months till the shop closed. Afterwards, I labored as a mason’s helper, incomes R$80 a day. As a gardener, I earned R$150.
In July, I began working as a cook dinner in a restaurant making lunchboxes. As there have been six of us, 5 members of the household have been working. I did not even receives a commission, it was extra to pay for meals. But two months in the past the restaurant closed and everybody was out of work.
Today we’re promoting our home to repay debt. He is our solely asset, however we’d like cash till we will work as medical doctors once more.
I heard on tv that the Mais Médicos program would return. When we get employed, all I’m going to do is pay my payments, get my life again collectively, and stay extra peacefully.
29 years after commencement, it was exhausting to listen to that we aren’t even medical doctors, we’re spies. Not believing in my enterprise was the largest ache in my life.