Chávez to undergo treatment in Cuba for the 11th time in 17 months

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez failed to attend on Tuesday the celebration of the Military Aviation Day and the anniversary of the coup d'état that took place on November 27, 1992. More than one year after the Venezuelan president was diagnosed with cancer and for the 11th time since June 2011, he will travel to Cuba to undergo treatment. This time, he will be receiving a "special treatment:" hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Chávez was last seen in public on November 15 during a meting with his cabinet. Twelve days later, he made the news as National Assembly's President Diosdado Cabello read out a statement issued by Chávez asking permission to leave the country to undergo the previously mentioned therapy.

Chávez communiqué would not set Chávez's date of return to Venezuela. The permission was granted as from November 27, yet the statement makes it clear that the Venezuelan president will be at the National Assembly on January, 10 to present his Second Socialist Plan of the Nation within the framework of his inauguration for his presidential term 2013-2019. 

Chávez's statement to the National Assembly reads as follows:

"As it is well known across the country, in addition to the intense electoral campaign and my duties as head of State and Government, I have been taking duly care of my health conditions and obediently following the complementary treatment suggested by the medical team. Six month after having completed the last therapy, I have been advised to begin a special treatment, which consists of several hyperbaric oxygen sessions. The treatment along with the physiotherapy continues consolidating the improvement of the already good health conditions I have experienced (...) thus, in compliance with Article 235 of the Venezuelan Constitution, I request this National Assembly permission to leave the country on November 27, 2012 and stay in sister nation Cuba to complete the therapy on schedule."

Translated by Jhean Cabrera