This month the world was shocked to learn of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’ admission of being ill with cancer and his flight to Cuba to undergo an operation to remove a tumour. The weight of Mr. Chavez being ill has a great effect on Venezuela and all of Latin America because he is the voice of left wing populist leaders in the region and has the clout and funds to expand his ideology across the region. Over the last 12 years of his Presidency, Hugo Chavez has fought to remain in power and has increasingly pushed for the Presidential branch to have more power in Venezuela’s Constitution. Critics of Mr. Chavez say this increased power is placing Chavez in the position of being a permanent leader with absolute authority over the country’s resources and power. With an illness or death of Hugo Chavez comes a great shift in the direction of Venezuela and the continent as a whole.
Beyond the debate between leftists and opposition leaders in Venezuela regarding the effects of an ill Chavez, for anyone to have such a horrible affliction such as cancer should be regarded with some sympathy and respect for the difficulties the victim will have with the illness. In reality, research and treatments to help cancer sufferers, even if done in Cuba, helps the international medical community to treat patients in all countries as research and funding in Cuba does not solely remain in Cuba or Venezuela. Cuban research, like all research in the international medical community often contributes to research in Europe, the US and abroad to help all cancer patients internationally. Chavez response to his illness and his view of this illness as being one of the great challenges to his personal life may have a positive effect for cancer treatment in Venezuela and for others living within Latin America.
A few years ago Venezuela offered free eye treatment for many living in Latin America who could not afford the treatments. Treatments of eye illnesses has a great effect on the lives of those in the region as the loss of sight for poorer individuals is a massive burden for those who often have no support to begin with and suffer greatly from the effects of poverty. New technologies in eye care can provide quick and clean surgeries and can change the lives of many. It is possible that Chavez will focus a great deal of funding for cancer treatment as well, but it could be that the treatment could cost a lot more than the eye care program and health initiatives by Mr. Chavez. A broad treatment initiative without comparative budgeting often does not accord with the affordability of balanced medical system for those in Venezuela and outside of the country. Despite this, there is a good chance that cancer treatment and research will get a boost in Venezuela, signed off by the President himself. Whatever the outcome of Hugo Chavez’ Presidency and continuing Revolution, cancer and how it will be treated will become a part of the historic narrative of this time in Latin American history.
A few months ago, I wrote about the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine through the lens of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. While it appears likely that the war will carry on into the foreseeable future, enough time has passed for us to make an honest assessment of each side’s relative […]
The Ukrainian Army has made dramatic strides in the last few weeks. Ukraine’s tactical commanders have outfoxed their Russian counterparts, and by issuing a feint towards the south the UA has been able to earn substantial gains in the north of their country. The impact of these efforts have been compounded by the steady stream […]
In mid-May the Irish political party, Sinn Féin, won the plurality of seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Many American readers might not fully understand the significance of Sinn Féin’s political victory- but rest assured that subjects of the United Kingdom and a wide range of political movements the world over have heard the message […]
The first wave of the Russian offensive in Ukraine has fallen short of Russian autocrat Vladmir Putin’s ambitions. Most analysts deduced that Putin had hoped to achieve a decapitation strike of the Ukrainian government- taking Kiev and replacing Ukrainian President Vladimir Zolinski with a pro-Kremlin voice. Kiev has been threatened repeatedly through the course of […]
On the weekend of March 26th, the notorious MS-13 gang went on a massive killing spree in El Salvador which left more than 70 people dead by Sunday. Even for a country where powerful gangs hold massive sway, this recent tragedy stands out considering that it was the bloodiest day on record since the civil […]
