The 2022 budget contemplates the transformation of communities, which also includes service facilities.    Photo: Archivo/RHC

By María Josefina Arce 

Cuba stands out in Latin America for the importance it attaches to social spending, in its efforts and commitment to guarantee equity and human rights for each of its citizens, the essence of the Revolution.

It is the policy of the Cuban State to allocate substantial funds to areas of great impact on society, even in the midst of difficult situations such as the current one, marked by the tightening of the U.S. blockade and COVID-19, which has generated a complex economic situation.

For that reason, the 2022 budget reaffirms its marked social character, and continues to have among its priorities essential areas for the well-being and integral development of Cubans.

In this regard, the Cuban Minister of Finance and Prices, Meysi Bolaños stressed that the pandemic demonstrated the value of having a consolidated health and science system, with a human capital of high sensitivity, dedication and love, which have saved our lives, which commits us to continue defending from the State budget, the most sacred conquests of our socialist Revolution.

Hence, 56 billion 503 million pesos will be allocated to public health, to which all Cubans have access free of charge. The attention paid to this branch has made it possible to develop national programs of great impact among the population, such as Maternal and Child Health, Care for the Elderly and Non-Communicable Diseases.

 But, in addition, the State will support the reinforcement vaccination that is being developed in the country to keep citizens protected, in view of the appearance of the new Omicron variant, which has already increased the number of sick people worldwide.

Science has also been and will continue to be one of the sectors prioritized for its contributions to health, which have made it possible for the country to currently have three vaccines against COVID-19.

But its contribution is also reflected in agriculture, the food industry and care for the environment. For this reason, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has insisted on the need to strengthen the participation of science and technology in the different branches in order to boost the nation's socioeconomic development.

To education, another of the pillars of the Revolution, 55 billion 373 million pesos will be allocated, which will guarantee the study and training of one million 569 thousand children and young people at different levels of education.

For social security and assistance, the designated budget amounts to more than 43 billion 600 million pesos, which will guarantee the payment of pensions and the continuity of programs to help vulnerable people.

It also contemplates the transformation of communities, which includes the conservation and maintenance of buildings, the construction of new housing, the repair of roads, hydraulic networks and service facilities.

Approved by the National Assembly of People's Power in its eighth session of the ninth legislature, the 2022 budget is committed to the welfare of every Cuban, a priority of the Revolution.