Fidel Presented with the National School of Public
Health Distinction
BY JOSÉ A. DE LA OSA

Fidel Castro Ruz was presented with the commemorative distinction for the 80^th Year of the National School of Public Health (ENSAP) for his exceptional contribution to the development of Cuban society and the consolidation of the Cuban healthcare system on the island and abroad.

The distinction, handed over by Dr. Pastor Castell-Florit, was received by Politburo member and Minister José Ramón Balaguer during the closing ceremony of the Scientific Symposium of this academic institution in charge of post-graduate training, professional improvement and the development of research.

If anything should be said about the Cuban healthcare system it is that its excellence has been made possible thanks to Fidel´s concepts, principles and ideas, said Balaguer.

The distinction was also conferred on Ernesto Che Guevara, José Ramón Machado Ventura, the Public Health minister and Science, Technology and Environment minister José M. Miyar Barruecos. Likewise, a group of professionals was also decorated for their active participation in the development of the Cuban healthcare system. They were Orlando Carnota, Gregorio Delgado, Antonio Granda, Juan José Ceballos, Francisco Rojas Ochoa, Pablo Resik, Norma Eneida Ríos, Helenio Ferrer and Benito Pérez Maza.

Founded in 1927 under the name Carlos J. Finlay National Institute, the ENSAP, as a rector center for the National Public Health School, has amassed important academic scientific-technical achievements. It has 1,506 Master degree graduates and has trained 61 Doctors in Science and 120 are in the process.