{"id":3568,"date":"2019-08-25T16:19:29","date_gmt":"2019-08-25T16:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/?p=3568"},"modified":"2021-01-25T16:21:27","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T16:21:27","slug":"the-little-known-story-of-the-chernobyl-children-cured-in-cuba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/the-little-known-story-of-the-chernobyl-children-cured-in-cuba\/","title":{"rendered":"The Little Known Story of the Chernobyl Children Cured in Cuba"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"536\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?resize=747%2C536&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3573\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?resize=1024%2C735&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?resize=300%2C215&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?resize=768%2C551&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1102&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?resize=120%2C85&amp;ssl=1 120w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?w=2036&amp;ssl=1 2036w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the new four part HBO documentary about the 1986 nuclear power plant meltdown in Chernobyl is being viewed by millions a related story&nbsp;of human dignity and solidarity that was omitted also needs to be told.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The disaster that started on April 26, 1986, at reactor No. 4 of the Vladimir Ilyich Lenin nuclear power station in Ukraine, resulted in a wide array of painful radioactive related conditions to thousands of children living in the area where the nuclear disaster took place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1990, the Cuban Government headed by Fidel Castro decided to aid the victims by taking the town of Tarara, an ex seaside resort for the country\u2019s bourgeoisie and military elite during the Batista dictatorship, in eastern Havana and turning it into a real hospital and treatment city. In addition to the clinical facilities for those affected \u2013 which included two hospitals and some 20 medical branches in the professional category \u2013 the small city had a theatre, several schools and recreational areas stretching out over almost two kilometres of crystal-clear beaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Tarar\u00e1 pediatric hospital treated more than 25,000 children, accompanied by their families, who were victims of the tragedy from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, most of them had thyroid cancer and leukemia since they had been exposed to iodine-131 or caesium-137. They also suffered from deformities, muscular atrophy, skin disease and stomach problems. Along with all that most of the children suffered from post traumatic stress caused by experiencing the nuclear horror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cuban doctors Julio Medina, who coordinated the program for years, and Omar Garcia, researcher at the Center for Radiation Protection and Hygiene, divided the patients into four groups. It entailed staying on the Island between 45 days and several months depending on the seriousness of their condition. Cuban doctors, teachers and social workers took care of the Chernobyl children at the facility from 1990 to 2011.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cuban consul Sergio Lopez said in the documentary&nbsp;<em>Chernobyl in Us.<\/em>&nbsp;\u201cFidel made it clear to me, I don\u2019t want you to go to the press or the press to go to the Consulate. This is a basic duty we are meeting with the Soviet people, with a sister nation. We are not doing this for publicity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three months before the first aircraft arrived from Ukraine with 139 children, Fidel had informed the Cuban population that hard times were coming, since the fall of the Berlin Wall was the beginning of an economic crisis and that would include serious scarcity. But continuing with the plan to support the Chernobyl victims was never called into question. \u201cThough Cuba endured difficult economic times during the Special Period our country continued providing specialized healthcare for those children, fulfilling a commitment of solidarity,\u201d Dr. Medina told Telesur in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A few weeks ago, Cuba announced that they will resume the program for the sons and daughters of the victims, who are showing ailments similar to those of their parents. This time, they are going to be treated at Siboney International Clinic, in western Havana. The HBO television series has come to an end, but Cuba\u2019s solidarity will never end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.resumen-english.org\/2019\/06\/the-little-known-story-of-the-chernobyl-children-cured-in-cuba\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.resumen-english.org\/2019\/06\/the-little-known-story-of-the-chernobyl-children-cured-in-cuba\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Resumen<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While the new four part HBO documentary about the 1986 nuclear power plant meltdown in Chernobyl is being viewed by millions a related story&nbsp;of human<a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/the-little-known-story-of-the-chernobyl-children-cured-in-cuba\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101011,"featured_media":3573,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[43,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2452,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/beyond-covid-19-cholera-and-ebola-cuban-doctors-saved-tens-of-thousands-of-children-from-chernobyl\/","url_meta":{"origin":3568,"position":0},"title":"Beyond Covid-19, cholera and ebola, Cuban doctors saved tens of thousands of children from Chernobyl","author":"Editorial Team","date":"July 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Cuban doctors are famed for their heroic role fighting outbreaks internationally such as Ebola and cholera \u2014 and celebrated today for their efforts against Covid-19. However few know the story of their 21-year project saving the child victims of Chernobyl, writes LINDA PENTZ GUNTER UBA\u2019S Henry Reeve Medical Brigade of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/doctor-treats-Haitian-cholera-victims.jpg?fit=600%2C408&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/doctor-treats-Haitian-cholera-victims.jpg?fit=600%2C408&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/doctor-treats-Haitian-cholera-victims.jpg?fit=600%2C408&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3734,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cuban-aid-what-hbo-didnt-mention-in-their-chernobyl-series\/","url_meta":{"origin":3568,"position":1},"title":"Cuban Aid: What HBO Didn\u2019t Mention In Their \u2018Chernobyl\u2019 Series","author":"Editorial Team","date":"July 16, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Although Cuba went through economically difficult times, our state continued to offer specialized treatment to minors, fulfilling a commitment of solidarity\" HBO\u2019s \u2018Chernobyl\u2019 has been criticised for being historically inaccurate, but on Sunday, Cuba pointed out that their crucial role in providing free treatment to the victims is being airbrushed\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?fit=1200%2C861&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?fit=1200%2C861&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?fit=1200%2C861&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?fit=1200%2C861&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?fit=1200%2C861&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4286,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/chernobyl-and-the-humanism-of-the-cuban-revolution\/","url_meta":{"origin":3568,"position":2},"title":"Chernobyl and the Humanism of the Cuban Revolution","author":"Editorial Team","date":"May 20, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"What occurred that day of April 26th, 1986, when No. 4 reactor exploded at the Vladimir Ilich Lenin Nuclear Power Plant \u2014 north of Ukraine, 1,5 miles away from Pripyat city, 10 miles away from Chernobyl city and from the border with Belarus\u2014, still lingers in the heart and memories\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6072,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/chernobyl-children-in-cuba-an-untold-story-part-i\/","url_meta":{"origin":3568,"position":3},"title":"Chernobyl Children in Cuba: an Untold Story (Part I)","author":"Editorial Team","date":"March 30, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Tarara, children of Chernobyl. Photo Liborio Noval By way of introduction\u2026 One day in 2011, Peruvian visual artist Sonia Cunliffe visited the beach resort of Tarar\u00e1. She noticed bald children bathing on the beach. She asked who they were and they answered her: the Chernobyl children. She was shocked, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/3-30-chernobyl.jpeg?fit=519%2C330&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":8077,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cuba-and-the-children-of-chernobyl\/","url_meta":{"origin":3568,"position":4},"title":"Cuba and the Children of Chernobyl","author":"Editorial Team","date":"April 28, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"It is a little know fact that Cuba provided medical treatment and care to more children affected by the Chernobyl disaster than any other country in the world. According to official figures, over 25,000 children from the affected areas of Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia were treated in Cuba's healthcare system\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl-1.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl-1.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl-1.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl-1.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6120,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/chernobyl-children-in-cuba-an-untold-story-part-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":3568,"position":5},"title":"Chernobyl Children in Cuba: an Untold Story (Part 2)","author":"Editorial Team","date":"April 9, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"March 29, 2022 was the 32nd anniversary of the arrival in Cuba of 139 children from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus; after the impact of the explosion of the fourth reactor of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. On that day, the longest humanitarian program in human history was born. CubaenResumen resumes\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Cuba&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Cuba","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/cuba\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl-1.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl-1.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl-1.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/hijo-de-chernobyl-1.jpg?fit=766%2C421&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3xdTY-Vy","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/children-of-chernoble.jpeg?fit=2036%2C1461&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3568","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101011"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3568"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3568\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3573"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3568"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3568"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3568"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}