Tribute and farewell to Cuban professor Francisco Rojas Ochoa
From the CLACSO Working Group on International Health and Health Sovereignty With great admiration, homage, recognition and of course sorrow, we pay tribute in farewell to the deceased public health physician Professor Francisco Rojas Ochoa (1930-2020).
One of the most significant figures for Latin American social medicine and critical thinking in health in Latin America and the Caribbean, and undoubtedly even more prominent for beloved Cuba.
For Latin American critical thinking on collective health, it is not possible to highlight the achievements of the Cuban Revolution in public health without knowing and thinking about the medical-social production and action of Professor Rojas Ochoa.
The documentary “Actor and Witness” treasures the most significant moments of Professor Rojas Ochoa and revolutionary Cuba.
A Doctor of Science, Professor, and Researcher of Merit at the University of Medical Sciences of Havana, he published over 100 works, including journal articles and books, and helped the aforementioned publication become one of the most cited in the Spanish-speaking world. He served as editor of the Cuban Journal of Public Health for 30 years.
He was an honorary member of the Cuban Society of Public Health and a full member of the Academy of Sciences, President of the Advisory Council of the Medical Sciences Publishing House, and was awarded the Annual Public Health Prize for his book "Vaccines. Cuba 1959-2008" and holds the "Carlos J. Finlay" Order.
Professor Rojas Ochoa was a specialist in Health Organization and Administration. In 2005, he received the PAHO Award in Administration for his outstanding contribution to the development of the administration of health programs and services in Cuba and other countries in the region; and in the training of several generations of leaders and public health professionals.
Distinguished professor at the School of Public Health of Cuba and obviously founder of the Latin American Association of Social Medicine (ALAMES).
Several members of the GT had the opportunity to share, study and get to know him closely at our admired School of Public Health of Cuba (ENSAP).
Therefore, we express a fraternal embrace to the entire ENSAP and especially to Professor Zoe Bernal, a great friend of the Professor until his last days, who were working together on a production about the Cuban Health System for this CLACSO Working Group that will be released in 2020.
Many Thank you Professor Rojas Ochoa! Of the references that will continue to be admired and read by new generations of Latin American critical public health.
A tribute that will be constant. Farewell, Professor!
July 2th,2020
CLACSO Working Group
International Health and Health Sovereignty
This statement expresses the position of the Working Group International Health and Health Sovereignty and not necessarily that of the centers and institutions that make up the CLACSO international network, its Steering Committee or its Executive Secretariat.
