Cuba's confrontation to COVID 19 and the development of three vaccines against the virus has been repeatedly highlighted in recent months by international organizations and the press of other nations.
By María Josefina Arce
Cuba's confrontation to COVID 19 and the development of three vaccines against the virus has been repeatedly highlighted in recent months by international organizations and the press of other nations.
The effort made by our country, even in the midst of the difficult economic conditions generated by the disease caused by the new coronavirus and the U.S. blockade, maintained and reinforced during the pandemic, has been acknowledged.
The American Journal of Public Health has joined the publications that have dedicated space to highlight Cuba's achievements. In a critical essay, the publication states that Cuba has had a more consolidated and comprehensive response to the disease than countries like the United States.
The truth is that the largest of the Antilles is currently under control of the virus.
According to PAHO, the Pan American Health Organization, the Caribbean nation has the lowest lethality rate for COVID 19 in Latin America, with 0.9%.
A consolidated, free and universal health care system, with prevention as one of its pillars, has been decisive in these results.
This area has always been at the center of the state's attention. Every year, a large part of the budget is allocated to safeguarding public health, with its programs of great social impact and the vaccination campaigns that have been carried out throughout Cuba since 1962.
In fact, the American magazine emphasizes that it is not surprising that Cuba exhibits great results in comparison with the North American country, taking into account the differences in the structure and organization of the health systems.
Vaccination with Cuba's own immunosystems, thanks to the development of Cuban biotechnology, was recognized by the publication, while in recent days the British news agency Reuters underlined that Cuba has immunized more citizens against the virus than most of the world's largest and richest nations.
With nearly ten million Cubans fully vaccinated, our country ranks first in Latin America and second worldwide in terms of immunization against the infection.
This has been possible thanks to the government's commitment and political will with the development of science. Decades of investment in the biopharmaceutical industry and in the high preparation of our scientists have resulted in the conception of remarkable medicines that today not only benefit Cubans, but also citizens from different latitudes.
Cuba has always been committed to the life and protection of its citizens, and although the disease caused by the new coronavirus hit us hard this year, the effort and commitment of health workers, the scientific community and the authorities have made it possible for us to control the pandemic today.
