As we came to the end of a second week of virtual lockdown here in the UK, I found myself drawn to a little reported item of news about a group of Cuban doctors and nurses arriving in Italy to help tackle the Coronavirus outbreak there.
It took me back to just over a year ago when I was fortunate enough to explore the island of Cuba.
As well as its outstanding natural beauty, Cuba also provides an example of a different way of delivering healthcare, one I think we could learn from.
Having been blockaded by its powerful neighbour the USA for many decades, Cuba did not have ready access to medicines and expensive medical equipment and so needed to invent a different way of serving the health needs of its citizens.
The result? Cuba has a front-ended health system which focuses on keeping its population well rather than waiting until they are unwell before treating them.
In Cuba, hospital is a last resort. Once a year, the island’s GPs visit each of their patients at home to run a series of tests – checking their heart, blood pressure and the like – as well as advising on lifestyle or environmental changes that may be having an impact on their health.
This focus on wellbeing rather than ill health means that Cuba not only has a higher life expectancy than the USA, it also has far more doctors per dead of population (82 per 10,000 compared to 26. In the UK the figure is 28). That is why Cuba has been able to fly doctors to Italy this week, and indeed why there are Cuban doctors working in many crisis-torn countries across the world.
Here in the UK, one of the positives to emerge from the Coronavirus pandemic is that it has hugely reinforced our appreciation of our health service workers.
When this is all over, we can truly demonstrate that appreciation by vowing to keep ourselves as well as we can, through good diet and regular exercise.
Anecdotally, the lockdown has led to more people cooking meals from scratch, learning to bake their own bread and planting vegetables in their gardens. People also seem to have taken quite literally the official guidance that limits us to one form of daily exercise. Near me it has led to a noticeable increase in the number of cyclists, walkers and joggers using public spaces.
If during this crisis we embed these new behaviours into our lives to make long term changes, to look after ourselves better and to stop expecting the health service to pick up the results of our bad habits, it would not only help relieve pressure on those services, it would also give each of us a better quality of life.
At the heart of Cuba’s national health lies a healthy diet. Having said that, much of traditional Cuban cuisine involves meat. As a vegetarian, I had travelled to the country expecting to eat lots of rice and beans, one of its non-meat traditional dishes.
Instead, I was surprised by the range and quality of vegetarian foods now available to the visitor. In fact I never did get to try Cuban rice and beans in all my time there, so here is my take on this simple but hearty dish. I used black beans but you can substitute these with other beans depending on what you have available in your store cupboard.
Cuban-style rice and beans
Ingredients
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 red pepper, diced
1 green pepper, diced
200 g long grain rice (uncooked), rinsed and drained
400 g black beans, rinsed and drained
500 ml vegetable stock
2 bay leaves
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp sea salt
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
to serve
1 tbsp fresh coriander, finely chopped
Method
1. Pour the olive oil into a large pan or casserole dish with a lid and place over a medium heat. Once the oil is hot, ad the chopped onion. Cook, stirring for 5 minutes or until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the chopped peppers and the garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for a further 5 minutes or until the pepper has softened.
2. Add the rice, cumin and sea salt and stir to combine, then add the vegetable stock and the bay leaves. Stir and bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to just maintain a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Stir in the beans and bring back to a simmer. Place the lid over pan and cook for a further ten minutes then turn off the heat and leave to sit, with the lid on, for five more minutes.
3. Remove the lid, give everything a good stir and serve, sprinkled with the chopped fresh coriander.
Categories: dairy free, gluten free, vegan, vegetarian
Tags: coronavirus
I am so proud of the efforts being made internationally by Cuban doctors. I read that Trump is encouraging right-leaning countries to reject the Cuban assistance. Small minded and mean. The recipe is tempting.
Thank you Peggy. Many right wing leaders regard the Cuban humanitarian effort as ideologically driven, which I don’t believe is the case. Cuba has for decades provided international medical assistance to other nations. Either way, why would any country choose to reject an offer of expert help at a time of crisis? Steve x
Hi Steve! Have been following your recipes and have given lots a try! Saw this one and instantly taken back to our fabulous holiday in Cuba, we definitely plan to return again! Using the lovely weather and lock down ( although BAU for us in the hospital) to plant those peas!! Thanks
Hi Janine. Thank you for your lovely comments, and for trying my recipes. We, too, loved Cuba and feel privileged to have visited last year. Glad to hear you are planting your vegetables and hope you enjoy a bountiful harvest. Steve 😊
Simple, nutritious, and I’m sure quite delicious!
Thank you 🙂
Ironically, here in Boston (Cambridge actually), the approach to healthcare is identical to the Cuban model. Preventative is the key word and I have a series of annual tests which in turn make me feel confident that if there is something awry it will be caught early. We also catch up on diet, exercise and lifestyle in the annual physical with my primary care physician. Other tests such as mammogram and colonoscopy are administered by the relevant clinics. As you know, I believe in silver linings. The fact that better habits both dietary and activity are being adopted is one such. We have to hope that the habits have sufficiently strong and deep roots to survive when life reverts to somewhat like it was. X
Hi Osyth. It’s interesting and encouraging to learn of the enlightened approach to healthcare where you live. The best healthcare is, of course, self care and we will have to practise that more and more during this period of enforced isolation and reflection. I hope it will lead to us becoming wiser about the dietary and other choices we make, and therefore less reliant on others to deal with the consequences of our bad decisions. Steve x
Steve – thank you for this rather important post in my eyes. I have a number of facts of which I was unaware. Shall repost. Australia was one of the first hit after the escapee bug travelled outside its borders . . with firmly policed regulations in place we only have just over 30 unfortunates deceased . . . Amazing how threatened jai-time keeps people sensible . . . we hope we are on a downturn . . . love rice and beans . . . shall make it your way as soon as . . .
Thank you Eha, and for the repost. Steve x
Ah ha. Another recipe I can use. Thanks heaps.
Thank you John 😊
And furthermore, I did my main research for my degree on the Cuban Revolution and have maintained quite a love for them all ever since. Great post. Thankyou.
I am in awe of what that country has achieved, and continues to achieve against the odds.
As I am.
Fabulous! I love everything about what you did here. My Cuban beans are different, but I know there’s not just one traditional recipe for any dish in the whole world of cuisines!
Thank you Mimi x
Sounds so flavorful, yummy!
Thank you 🙂
Thank you so much for informing me that oregano and cumin and two ingredients that work well in Cuban dishes. I have been dying to get back outside and start exploring the restaurants in my area. I want to try new flavors and experience new cultures. It sounds like I will have to start looking into Cuban restaurants in my area.
Hi Greta, thank you for your comments. I do hope you manage to find some good Cuban food outlets. Stay safe. Steve 🙂