José Angel Portal talks with a delegation from the U.S. Congress, chaired by James McGovern.

By Roberto Morejón

At first glance, some ill-intentioned people might say that the number is not high, but in reality it is, because the fact that eleven U.S. cities requested to establish medical cooperation with Cuba had to face some hurdles.

The city councils approved resolutions to also benefit from the products of the Cuban biopharmaceutical industry in the fight against Covid-19.

The largest of the Antilles, with its own vaccines that counteracted the virus, has other novelties, although the U.S. blockade limits access to financial resources and supplies.

But the successes of scientists from the land of José Martí are there, only that U.S. administrations prefer to perpetuate the siege, intensified by Donald Trump.

However, there are people in the nation of the North who are looking for alternatives, including legislators.

Cuba's Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal, recently spoke in Havana with U.S. congressmen, led by Democrat James McGovern.

In a previous dialogue with those interlocutors, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel reiterated the willingness to move towards a respectful and constructive relationship with the United States.

As has been reiterated and envisioned during Barack Obama's term in office, working towards an eventual normalization of relations is advantageous for both nations.

U.S. agricultural coalitions and businessmen are advocating this.

The Cuba-U.S. Business Conference held in Havana last October with the presence of businessmen from both nations explored the possibilities of exchanges in the reduced space left by the blockade.

Previously, Cuban and U.S. scientists had traced a path of remarkable interest in the complex research process to find new therapies for the treatment of cancer.

Mutual assistance between the Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the Center for Molecular Immunology in Havana began based on science and without business interests, starting with a West Indian vaccine against lung cancer.

At a time when the current Democratic administration is maintaining most of the restrictions signed by Trump, the State Department should pay attention to the requests of eleven U.S. cities, where officials are looking far beyond local borders for the good of the community.