Havana, May 29 (RHC) -- About 80 percent of children with leukemia in Cuba have been cured of this type of cancer, the most common among children around the world, health officials reported in the Caribbean country.

According to the statements by Dr. Sergio Machin, head of the pediatric clinic of the Institute of Hematology and Immunology, this outstanding achievements comparable to those of developed nations is the result of the social character of the Cuban public health system and the dedicated care for children and youths.

The expert also higlighted Cuba's national network for the treatment of hematologic malignancies in children, distributed in seven institutions in the provinces of Havana, Pinar del Rio, Villa Clara, Camaguey, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba.

Since 1970, the Institute of Hematology and Immunology has been developing a protocol for treatment of various types of leukemia and since 2009 has incorporated advanced treatment procedures to ensure the current high levels of recovery.