The Republic of Cuba 20 



DR. ENRIQUE NUNEZ 

 Secretary of Sanitation and Public Charities 



jERHAPS the most important 

 PortfoUo of the entire Cabi- 

 net is that of Sanitation and 

 Public Charities, and also the 

 one which has accomplished 

 most since the Independence 

 of the Republic. 



The Department had a 

 unique reputation to live up to, having carried 

 on the work begun under G^n. Wood (when 

 Cuba was one of the unhealthiest pest-ridden 

 countries of the globe), to the admiration of 

 all, including its tutors, and it was therefore 

 with complete confidence that President Menocal 

 selected one of Cuba's foremost physicians and 

 surgeons. Dr. Enrique Nunez, to uphold this 

 reputation and continue the great work. 



That Secretary Enrique Nunez and his Depart- 

 ment have not disappointed this expectation is 

 proven first by the fact that Cuba is today the 

 healthiest country in the world, with a death rate 

 of only 12.70 per thousand (see statistics on page 

 30), and also one of the cleanest; and secondly, 

 by the very important practical results obtained 

 by the active campaigns initiated by Dr. Nunez 

 and his assistant. Dr. Lopez del Valle, against 

 infantile mortality, the adulteration of milk and 

 foodstuffs, the sale and use of heroic drugs, 

 opium, morphine, cocaine, etc., and vice in 

 general; the establishment of new hospitals and 

 sanitariums for the poor, for children, for tuber- 

 culosis patients and subjects; of summer colonies 

 for poor children, clinics, creches, a special 

 department of visiting nurses to the homes of 



