The distinction to the largest island in the Caribbean.
By María Josefina Arce
Cuba achieved an effective response to COVID 19, which allowed that although at a certain moment the disease caused by the new coronavirus had a stronger impact on the national territory, the lethality rate was one of the lowest in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Great was the effort made by health personnel and the authorities, because the Greater Antilles faced the virus in the midst of an intensification of the U.S. blockade that hindered the acquisition of medical supplies and necessary equipment.
The response of the Caribbean nation was highlighted in the last few hours by PAHO, the Pan American Health Organization, at the Eighth Regional Meeting of its Sarinet and Revelac networks, which concludes today in Guatemala. This recognition is in addition to that previously issued by other international organizations and press media of several nations.
This is the case of the WHO, World Health Organization, whose director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated the Cuban authorities for their efforts and the high level of immunization of the population, thanks to the vaccines created by Cuban scientists.
In fact, Cuba is among the 10 countries with more citizens immunized against the SARS-COV2 virus, which causes COVID 19. By the end of 2022, nearly 91% of the population had been vaccinated, while among children and adolescents the percentage is 94.8%.
The press of other nations also reflected the efficient response of the archipelago. Thus, in the midst of the pandemic, an article in the U.S. newspaper The Washington Post highlighted the measures adopted by the authorities, among them, the screening of the population to detect possible cases and provide immediate medical attention, as well as to prevent the spread of the virus.
The Washington Post also recalled the experience of the archipelago in combating emergencies, pointing out that the practice of house-to-house inquiries has been carried out in Cuban territory since 1981, when the dengue epidemic took place.
The truth is that even when no case had been reported in Cuba, the Plan for the Prevention and Control of the coronavirus was elaborated and later the Temporary Working Group was created to face COVID 19, which maintained constant exchanges all the time to check the situation and which counted on the participation of the highest authorities of the country.
In addition, isolation centers were established to minimize contagion and where those suspected of carrying the virus were followed up. In addition to this, the Family Doctor and Nurse accompanied the patients recovered by the Family Doctor and Nurse in the communities.
