Havana, May 22 (RHC) -– On Thursday, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) representative in Cuba, Jose Luis Di Fabio, stated that the health care model of the Caribbean island is a paradigm of success and social inclusion.

Health in Cuba is free and accessible for everyone, and the country has also played a relevant role in supporting many nations since the 1960s, Di Fabio told Prensa Latina news agency.

Di Fabio, who also serves as World Health Organization (WHO) representative in Havana, stressed the importance that Cuba has been appointed to chair the 67th Assembly of that UN agency in Geneva this week.

The PAHO representative recalled that since the arrival of the first Cuban medical brigade to Algeria more than 50 years ago, Havana's solidarity missions have extended to more than 135 countries. Today, nearly 50,000 Cuban health workers are working in several nations, 25,000 of them are physicians.

The 67th World Health Assembly brings together in Geneva representatives of the 194 WHO members and the main issue this year is the impact of climate change on health.