April 21, 2006	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 22, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, April 20: The documentary ‘On the Hillsides of The Himalayas’, through dramatic images, magisterial soundtrack and emotional testimonies of the earthquake victims and Cuban doctors, displays the historic deeds of the Cuban medical contingent and shows us with strength, passion and lyricism, moments of this essentially humanitarian mission.

The premiere of the documentary filmed three months after the devastating earthquake struck the northern region was held here on Thursday.

Filmed by renowned Cuban film-maker Roberto Chile the documentary mobilises consciousness and strikes the hearts of the viewers.

Immediately following the October 8 tragedy a Cuban medical contingent comprising 2,600 health professionals arrived in Pakistan and saved lives and eased the sufferings of victims in the remotest and most affected regions, while themselves braving extremities of weather and difficult road conditions.

The team set up centres at 45 locations in the NWFP and Kashmir and medically assisted more than one and a half million patients.

Charge de Affairs of the Cuban embassy in Islamabad, commenting on the documentary, said it testified that human solidarity was really possible.

The film, he said, sent a message to the world that how a small, distant and blockaded country like Cuba moved by the sufferings of humanity in these ill-fated moments could come forward and win hearts by extending substantial help.

Musical lyricism of Frank Fernandez, the documentary compels the viewers to reflect on the fact that only the smile of a traumatised child was worth what Cuba offered to the victims in the shape of 240 tons of medication, 275 tons of medical equipment, donation of 30 hospitals and services of some 2,600 medics in the most critical moments.

It is worthwhile witnessing the experience of a doctor, who fights against the language barrier for saving precious human lives; of a female doctor who travels the mountains to provide medicine to a patient; of men and women fighting the harshness of winter to keep the vitality of a hospital.

The film depicts Cubans playing with children helping them psychologically overcome the trauma of earthquake.

The documentary has excerpts of the conversation between President Musharraf and President Fidel Castro on November 5 after which this relief mission materialised. There is also a brief description by President Musharraf of the indebtness of the Pakistani nation to the people of Cuba.

Information Secretary Shahid Rafi, in his comments on the film, said the film brought about the heroism of Cubans, who won hearts of the people of Pakistan.

He said this film showed how tragedies blend different distantly located nations into one community.