PHM-Exch> Honduran Dr safety threatened: action alert

[Claudio Schuftan]

ACTION ALERT:
DEMAND SAFETY FOR HONDURAN DOCTOR LUTHER CASTILLO

July 7, 2009-The life of Dr. Luther Castillo, indigenous Garifuna physician
in Honduras, is in imminent danger. MEDICC has learned that the Honduran
army has orders to capture Dr. Castillo, and if he resists, to shoot him. He
was already included on a list of persons whose lives and personal integrity
were declared "at risk" by a July 3rd communiqué from the OAS Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights.

We have been able to verify that Dr. Castillo's cellphone communications
have been cut. The last conversation with him took place at approximately
2:30pm today, in which he reported on continued demonstrations demanding the
return of elected President Manuel Zelaya, despite security forces'
repression.

Just weeks ago, Dr. Castillo was named director of International Cooperation
in the Honduran Foreign Ministry. Since 1999, he has directed the Luaga
Hatuadi Waduheñu Foundation ("For the Health of our People" in Garifuna),
dedicated to bringing vital health services to isolated indigenous coastal
communities.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Call the White House and the State Department, urging the US government
demand:
• safety for Dr. Castillo, his colleagues, and all persons protesting the
coup,
• an end to the repression, and
• the unconditional return of constitutional President Manuel Zelaya
State Department: 202-647-4000 or 1-800-877-8339
White House: Comments: 202-456-1111, Switchboard: 202-456-1414
State Department's Honduras Desk: 202-647-3482

More Background


After his 2005 graduation from the Latin American Medical School in Havana,
Dr. Castillo returned to the Honduran coast, where he led construction of
Honduras' first Garifuna Rural Hospital, now serving some 20,000 in the
surrounding communities. The hospital opened in December 2007, just months
after Dr. Castillo was named "Honduran Doctor of the Year" by Rotary
International's Tegucigalpa chapter. "Thank you for inspiring me," said
California Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, speaking at the hospital's
opening ceremony.

The hospital and its community health outreach are supported by a number of
U.S. and other international organizations, including the Sacramento,
California Central Labor Council, Global Links, The Birthing Project, and
MEDICC. Several US medical schools also have cooperative arrangements with
the Garifuna hospital, including Johns Hopkins, Emory, Charles Drew and
University of California (SF).

Dr. Castillo is featured in ¡Salud! (www.saludthefilm.net), a documentary
film that received the Council on Foundations Henry Hampton Award for
Excellence in Film & Digital Media (USA). MEDICC (Medical Education
Cooperation with Cuba), www.medicc.org, is a US non-governmental
organization working to enhance cooperation among the U.S., Cuban and global
health communities aimed at better health outcomes.

MEDICC (Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba), www.medicc.org, is a US
non-governmental organization working to enhance cooperation among the U.S.,
Cuban and global health communities aimed at better health outcomes.

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