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Havana, Jan 18 (RHC)-- Cuba awarded the Carlos J. Finlay Order, the highest decoration granted by the Council of Ministers, to 50 national researchers, three entities, and three foreigners for their contribution to humanity.

At the Havana Convention Center,  the vice minister of the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Environment (Citma), Armando Rodríguez, underscored on Tuesday the merits and valuable contributions of the awardees to the development of natural and social sciences.

"It is not by chance that the Cuban scientific community has achieved in less than two years the production of vaccines, biopharmaceutical products, equipment, and supplies to face the Covid-19 pandemic," remarked the vice minister.

He described that the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro, showed the way with his wisdom and leadership by demonstrating the possibility of making this country a scientific and academic power through the articulation of all specialties.

Of the 115 proposals submitted to Citma by the Central State Administration Agencies, figures from the Biotechnological and Pharmaceutical Industry Group, including the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and the Center for Molecular Immunology, deserved the distinction.

In addition, representatives of cultural, historical, economic, sports, telecommunications, armed forces, international relations, education, agriculture, and the Azcuba Sugar Group also received the award.

The order was also awarded to the presidents and directors of the Antidoping Laboratory of Havana, Casa de las Americas and the José Martí National Library.

The medal will also be awarded for their scientific work to foreign citizens Francoise Keita, French researcher, Fabrizio Chiodo, Italian chemistry professor and participant in developing the Cuban anti-Covid-19 biologicals of the Finlay Institute: Soberana 01 and Soberana 02.

On the other hand, Alireza Biglari, Doctor of Science in the specialty of Medical Genetics and General Director of the Pasteur Institute of Tehran, Iran, and Delaram Doroud, Doctor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, an international expert in Nanobiotechnology, quality control, development, and production of human vaccines, was awarded the honorary title of Meritorious Researcher.