Latin American Obstetrics and Gynecology Loses a Master

May 4, 2021

Full Professor and Consultant, Doctor Evelio Liberato Cabezas Cruz, who dedicated his entire life to the sexual and reproductive health of Cuban women and families, and who presided over the National Special Group for early diagnosis of cervical cancer, passed away this Sunday in the capital at the age of 86.

Born on August 17, 1934 in Santa Isabel de las Lajas, now in the province of Cienfuegos, Las Villas at that time, he graduated as a Doctor of Medicine from the University of La Habana in 1962.

Founder of the National Group of Advisors of the Ministry of Public Health for the specialty of Gynecology and Obstetrics, of which he was Head for more than 25 years, Cabezas Cruz was also President of the Cuban Society of Gynecobstetrics.

During his long and fruitful work trajectory, he served as Professor in the Faculties of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba and Ciudad de La Habana; Head of the Department of that specialty at the National Hospital Doctor Enrique Cabrera.

He was also Director of the América Arias and Eusebio Hernández hospitals, in the capital and expert on cervical cancer for the Council for Mutual Economic Aid, according to a note published on Cuba's health portal Infomed.

He served as coordinator of the Student Assistant Fronts and Student Scientific Activity of the Finlay Albarrán Faculty from 1976 to 1980 and Member of the Advisory Commission of the Rector of the University of Medical Sciences of La Habana.

He carried out an internationalist mission in the Democratic Republic of Yemen and participated as a temporary Advisor for the Pan American Health Organization in the Program for Early Diagnosis of Cervical Cancer.

Professor Cabezas, as his colleagues and friends called him, was Principal Researcher in several Projects of the World Health Organization and received the designation of Master of Latin American Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Among the recognitions, Doctor Cabezas was deserving of the Distinctions: Manuel "piti" Fajardo; August 23 (conferred by the Federation of Cuban Women); and the Second Class Internationalist Fighter Medal.

Likewise, he was Visiting Professor at the University of Oriente; declared Guest of Honor, Distinguished Guest and Illustrious Guest in three Latin American countries and received more than 30 recognitions.

Author of more than one hundred national and international publications and about twenty books of the specialty, among them, for the subject of Comprehensive General Medicine, for the Medicine degree and for the Latin American Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as conducting more than 150 presentations at national and international scientific events.

During his scientific career, he was affiliated with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and the Latin American Federation of that specialty, was a Full Member of the Section of Endocrinology and Biology of Reproduction, Honorary Member of the Bolivian Society of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Foreign Corresponding Member of the Paraguayan and Peruvian societies of that medical branch.

Doctor Cabezas presided over the National Commission for the scientific analysis of Maternal Deaths, of which he was the founder.

He tirelessly traveled throughout the country, from east to west, analyzing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality for years, even despite his advanced age, supporting and ensuring the ethical and scientific analysis of maternal deaths.

He was characterized by courteous treatment, respect toward his colleagues and for giving masterful, active, participatory lectures, underscored by his charisma, which awakened applause from his students.

Throughout the country, he sowed, fertilized, watered and harvested the fruit of his love for the profession, for the specialty, which will continue to germinate endlessly because, as he promised us again and again, he would fight and work until the end of his fruitful life, concludes the message from the Cuban Society that extends to his family members, friends and colleagues the most sincere and heartfelt condolences for such a lamentable death.