Iván García, Translator: Unstated
For Ricardo, 32, the worst business one could have in Cuba is to have
kids. "I have two and I know what I'm talking about. If my old lady
didn't get rid of them it's because the gynecologist told us that if she
had another abortion she could be left sterile. After pulling our hair
out we decided to have it. And God punished us. We got twins."
Many couples think like Ricardo. Abortion as become a contraceptive
method in Cuba. It's practically irresponsible.
Heidi, 27, is going for her 5th abortion. "The doctor would not let me,
but stronger than his medical ethics were the 25 dollars that I put in
the pocket of his coat. It's crazy to have a child now. I live in the
room of a tenement with a large family and some sleep on the floor. I
work in a pharmacy and earn 290 pesos (12 dollars). My boyfriend does
not work. Every time I get pregnant, I get an abortion."
Abortion is almost a sport for some Cubans. The doctor Raisa blames
couples neglect when they have sex. "Young people don't like using
condoms to protect themselves. And girls often don't have any
contraceptives. Cuban public health should be more rigorous about
abortions. the situation has gone from bad to worse."
Interruptions of pregnancy are free on the island, like the rest of
health care. Even though there are doctors who take money under the
table to do abortions. According to a Havana gynecologist, he makes
about a hundred dollars a month. "They also give me nice presents, even
a leg of ham in one case."
But the dance of banknotes occurs when doctors go on aid missions
abroad. A report in the Wall Street Journal published in January 2011 by
Joel Millman, gave a clue about the behind the scenes business of Cuban
doctors performing abortions in African nations and the Middle East.
Joseph, a physician who spent 3 years in South Africa, said that to
offer abortions in these countries is a way to return to the island with
enough money. "If things go well you'll even make enough money to desert. "
Institutions like the Catholic Church have take on the issue of abortion
full tilt. The dissident physician Oscar Elias Biscet, recently released
on parole, has been a leading voice against indiscriminate termination
of pregnancy. Dr. Hilda Molina, now living in Argentina, conducted a
crusade for years against the use of fetuses in the production of drugs
by national scientific institutions.
No doubt, Cuba is the country in the Americas that provides the most
facilities for the practice of abortion. One of the harmful trends
generated by the revolution. The precarious living conditions and
homelessness have caused a high number of women choose abortion,
sometimes after more than twelve weeks of gestation. The official media
do not touch the issue publicly. As if it didn't exist.
Mass practice of abortion and little desire to have children by couples,
are contributing to the rapid aging of the population. If life is
difficult for young people, imagine the elderly. Cuba is not a good
country for old people. By 2020, there will be more seniors than
children aged between 0 and 14. Add to this that every year 20 thousand
people migrate legally to the United States, hundreds of them still of
childbearing age.
The Havana gynecologist believes that such a large number of abortions
is also a response to dissatisfaction with the status quo. "They do not
care to have a child in a country full of scarcities. There are women
who get rid of them because they are waiting to leave and want to give
birth abroad, with more resources. It is unfortunate, but that is
happening. "
Fidel Castro's revolution has been an efficient factory for producing
shortages. Quite the opposite in the case of abortion. You can give him
a gold medal.
May 2 2011
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