A difficult year, but with results

By María Josefina Arce

A difficult year is coming to an end for the world due to the incidence of COVID 19 and the economic crisis generated, which deepened existing inequalities, increased hunger, poverty and unemployment.

Cuba did not escape this complex situation, aggravated by destabilizing actions promoted by the United States and the reinforcement of the U.S. blockade that imposed greater limitations in dealing with the disease caused by the new coronavirus, which hit us hard in 2021.

But it has also been a year of effort and results, in which, thanks to the vaccination campaign with our own immunosuppressants, the number of deaths and infections has been significantly reduced. Cuba also became the first country to begin immunizing its children and adolescents.

At present, a booster dose is also being applied to increase the protection of citizens in view of the appearance of Omicron, a new variant of COVID 19 which has increased the number of cases in the world and has already been detected in our country.

And although the economy faced a complex panorama, steps continued to be taken to revitalize it. Given the improvement of the epidemiological situation, the borders were opened, a measure aimed at reactivating tourism, one of the sectors most affected by the pandemic in the world and a driving force of the Cuban economy.

Progress was also made in necessary and profound transformations to increase agricultural production, still deficient, to give greater autonomy to the socialist state enterprise and the expansion of non-state economic actors.

Thus, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises were created, with legal personality so that they can participate in the economic and productive transformations of the nation.

We have also worked for the improvement of our society and its institutional framework. This year, the National Assembly of People's Power approved several laws aimed at providing greater strength and modernity to the judicial system.

Of particular note is the draft Family Code, which is inclusive, recognizes the plurality of families and protects the rights of all in this area. Approved by Parliament, it will be submitted to popular consultation from February to next April.

In 2021, direct attention to communities and people in vulnerable situations was also intensified in order to improve the living conditions of citizens. Throughout the months, there was a succession of constructive actions and rehabilitation of housing, public services and state institutions.

The year that is coming to an end was undoubtedly intense in terms of international solidarity. Once again it was demonstrated that Cuba is not alone in its long struggle for the end of the genocidal US blockade.

The UN General Assembly condemned for the twenty-ninth time the hostile and criminal policy of the United States, at the same time that actions in favor of the Cuban people took place all over the world.

The solidarity aid of governments, peoples and organizations from all over the world was valuable. Donations of medical supplies and food from various countries arrived in our territory to face the difficult situation created by the pandemic and the U.S. blockade.

Cuba is already looking ahead to 2022, which will be a year of intense work, with new challenges, aspirations to grow and continue advancing in the improvement of our society in order to improve the living conditions of Cubans.