This Friday, more than 1,350 graduates from the “Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías” University of Health Sciences (UCS) throughout Venezuela received their academic degrees that accredit them as Comprehensive Community Doctors. A representation of them received their titles in Caracas by the hands of the constitutional president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros.
Belonging to the 2024-I Promotion, “Bicentennial Year of the Battle of Ayacucho”, the new professionals will strengthen the National Public Health System (SNPS). A group of graduating students was present at the protocol ceremony, with 109 from Miranda state, and 200 from La Guaira, Carabobo, Aragua and Caracas.
From the Bicentennial Plaza of Miraflores Palace, the head of state was accompanied by the First Combatant woman, Cilia Flores; and authorities of the Ministry of People’s Power for Health, as well as other civil and military personalities:
“Every day there is something new, but the first thing is preventive medicine. The great medicine of the future is preventive, to prevent so as not to regret,” urged the head of state in his words of congratulation to the graduating students.
The national leader urged the new professionals to continue their studies with specialized postgraduate degrees and ordered the Minister for University Education and rector of the Bolivarian University of Venezuela (UBV), Sandra Oblitas, and the rector of the UCS, Dr. Carlos Alvarado, guarantee immediate access to specialization and improvement studies to all graduates:
“Whatever they want to study within the priorities: cardiology, pediatrics, obstetrics, traumatology, anesthesiologists, physiatrists, and mental health professionals,” he exemplified.
“Anyone who graduates as an integral community doctor has to continue studying one, two and even three postgraduate degrees. You have to be the best scientists in the world.”
In addition, he instructed the Ministry of Health to guarantee immediate permanent position in the SNPS to each of the graduates and, likewise, grant a special graduation bonus to the 1,357 graduates in the country.
Additionally, he referred to the need for new doctors to have their own homes, and ordered the authorities of the Great Mission Housing Venezuela (GMVV) to guarantee that instruction:
“I entrust the Minister of Health, the Minister of Housing and especially the Minister of the Presidency, General Márquez, to ensure that this order is carried out.”
Fight against the imperial blockade:
President Maduro said it was very emblematic that when new professionals began to study medicine, Venezuela was under siege, threatened and in danger:
“And I said, against these circumstances, nerves of steel, maximum calm and sanity, mobilization, the team will win, and we win for you!”
He recalled that in 2017 the North American imperial regime applied more than 900 economic sanctions, which caused the loss of 99% of national income, which meant that of the approximately 54 billion dollars that were received a year before, it was transferred to the other with a reduced one of 700 million:
“We stood up, we did not cower and with the constitution in hand I called the Constituent Assembly and we conquered peace, and do you know why? So that you could continue training, studying, forging yourself. We conquered peace to improve, prosper and make changes.”
“And did we close any universities, schools? No! We gave birth to the resources. I graduated as a specialist in giving birth to resources and doing a lot with so little, so that you could graduate and from now on we will do better, and we will fulfill the oath that I ask us to take.”
Before the formal swearing-in ceremony, the President extended his recognition to the new generation of Venezuelans who make health an apostolate: “I congratulate you, boys and girls, we must face the challenges of all generations. You are the fourth generation in the Revolution, conscientious and forged professional youth who have to continue training moving forward.”
