The Order of Malta’s Cuban Association with headquarters in Miami is preparing to launch a medical and legal assistance service for migrant workers in March. The programme mostly involves Mexican agricultural workers in southern Florida who have little access to US welfare services.

Once a month, lawyers and doctors from the Order, both members and volunteers, will offer their services to migrants living in the St. Ann’s mission area. The Order’s Cuban Association organized a diabetes prevention and dental assistance day there on 24 January 2009, attended by over 150 people.

Numerous medical examinations were performed, including some 125 diabetes screenings, over 100 blood-pressure measurements, 40 osteoporosis tests and preventive dentistry for adults and children. At the migrant workers’ request, some of the Order’s voluntary lawyers came to provide legal aid. Hence the idea of a monthly voluntary medical, dentistry and legal counselling service was born that the Cuban Association will launch this coming March.