Not Just Tourists - every little bit helps

Dr. Ariel, leading gynecologist at Materno-Infantil José Ramón López in Matanzas, Cuba and local reporter Amanda Modaragamage. (Contributed photo)

Amanda Modaragamage, Echo Contributor

Over the years, I’ve loved travelling to different parts of the world, especially to places that aren’t known for tourism. One of my favourite things about travelling is meeting people and learning about different cultures, which is why trips to Honduras, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka and Zambia remain among my most meaningful experiences. These destinations aren’t always the safest or the most picture-perfect, but they draw me in because I genuinely want to understand how other people live.

Most recently, I was heading to Cuba for a resort vacation when I came across a non-profit group called Not Just Tourists (www.njt.net). I learned that I could bring a bag of medical supplies with me and deliver it to a local hospital. Even better, WestJet allows travellers to bring an extra humanitarian-aid suitcase for free. My only job would be to drop off the supplies.

The process was simple. Not Just Tourists, London packed the bags and sent me a link to fill out the paperwork for WestJet. Although I had to complete the forms more than once, it was still straightforward. When we arrived at the airport, my name was already in the system, and the bags were tagged to travel with us to Cuba at no charge.

Not Just Tourists provided a list of local hospitals in need, and we chose Hospital Materno-Infantil José Ramón López in Matanzas, one of the leading maternity hospitals in the country.

Once there, we took a day trip to Matanzas, about 40 minutes away. Our taxi driver kindly connected us with an on-site physician, Dr. Ariel—“like the Disney princess,” he joked.

Dr. Ariel told us that the provincial hospital, established in 1872, now operates as a women’s hospital with services in gynecology, maternity and general care. It handles roughly 80 to 85 per cent of all births in the region, with a mortality rate of fewer than three per 1,000 births.

As one of the largest and most advanced maternity hospitals in Cuba, it receives pregnant women from across the country who need urgent care, including those with high-risk pregnancies or birthing complications.

Cuba has its challenges. Food insecurity, medical supply shortages, limited access to clean or sterile water and a strained health-care system all contribute to low birth weights and high-risk pregnancies. Yet the country’s infant mortality rates remain better than those of many nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, and are closer to those seen in high-income countries, according to the Foundation for Economic Education.

In Cuba, home births are not permitted. All births take place in hospitals to reduce complications and infant deaths, and women are often admitted early if there are signs of trouble. Frequent prenatal checkups and routine monitoring also help support healthy outcomes.

During our visit, Dr. Ariel emphasized that even small items—saline, antiseptics, masks, gloves, dressing kits, wound-care materials—are needed, necessary and deeply appreciated. It’s easy to wonder how much of an impact one suitcase can make, but he assured us that in Cuba’s tight economic climate, every little bit truly helps.

I’m sharing this experience to encourage others to consider bringing a bag of supplies on their next trip. Not Just Tourists has locations across Canada and the United States, and the process is so easy. A little effort can go a long way.

If you are interested in learning more, please visit www.njt.net