Image taken from Radio Bayamo

By Roberto Morejón

With the endorsement of a fruitful relationship that began in 1963, Cuba and Algeria are exploring ways to increase cooperation in health.

Since the arrival of the first group of Cuban doctors to that nation in that year, relations have reached higher levels in areas such as health, medical equipment supplies, energy, construction and sports.

To get an idea of the usefulness of mutual contributions, it is worth highlighting the agreements on water resources to fight floods and droughts and to protect cities.

But the presence of Cuban health professionals represented a milestone in Algeria, a land where the Antilleans place the beginning of international cooperation in this field, which has lasted until today.

Cubans specialized in construction helped years ago in the building of hospitals dedicated to ophthalmology, where doctors and technicians sent by Havana later worked.

 Men and women in white coats from the land of José Martí have worked in areas where they are most needed, in the so-called deep Algeria.

When talking about Cubans in Algeria, many evoke the implementation of the Mother and Child Program, the humanization of childbirths and, of course, the cooperation after the outbreak of the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus.

There are also antecedents of exchanges between Cuban and Algerian scientists located in the prestigious Pasteur Institute, in Algiers, the capital, with whom links could be strengthened in the future.

Given its development in biotechnology, vaccine and medicine production, Cuba is in a position to reach useful agreements.

Also in the field of economy it is feasible to work between both peoples and governments and in this regard favors an agreement signed last November between the Chamber of Commerce of Cuba and the National Confederation of the Algerian Patronage.

The objective is to develop trade and explore possible investments, laudable intentions despite the great geographical distance and the difficulties generated by the Covid-19 and its impact on finances, associated in the case of Cuba to the U.S. blockade.

When they are ready to commemorate next October the 60th anniversary of the establishment of their relations, Cuba and Algeria believe it is feasible to resume projects, after two years of world health crisis with impact in all parts of the world.