On Wednesday, 7 October, Foreign Office Vice Minister for the Americas Chris Bryant visited a primary health care unit and an Integral Diagnostic Centre (CDI) that are part of the Barrio Adentro (Inside the Neighbourhood) social programme sponsored by the Venezuelan Government. Chris was shown around the facilities, where he chatted with the medical staff and the patients.

During the visit, a group of members from the local community councils of the Antímano low income area of Caracas gathered around to meet Chris and Ambassador Catherine Royle. Cuban doctors serving under Barrio Adentro gave the British emissaries an overview of it and explained how this social health programme works and what its benefits are for the community at large.

Chris was interested to find out how the community councils, the health committees and the community in general relate to the different social programmes enacted in the area. He asked questions on the financing, logistics, citizen accountability and the support from the central government.

Ambassador Royle commented: “The collaboration between the community and the Barrio Adentro medical system is quite interesting, you can feel that there is an effective service being delivered to the people.”

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