Bayamo, June 6 (RHC) — Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Cuba Mirta Kaulard said Sunday that Cuba’s social and environmental development makes it stand out globally. Kaulard attended a national ceremony in the eastern province of Granma to mark June 5th --World Environment Day.

Addressing those present, the UN official noted that Cuba produces and commercializes leading, sometimes unique biotechnology products to treat several different illnesses. She added that 15% of the Cuban territory has been declared Protected Areas.

Kaulard, who is also resident representative in Cuba of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), pointed to the country's latest achievements in the field of health, particularly the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV-AIDS and the current epidemiological monitoring campaign to prevent the spread of Zika and other mosquito-born illnesses.

Cuban Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and the Environment (Citma), América Santos, praised the province of Granma, as worthy of hosting the island’s main activities to mark World Environment Day.

Among the motives for selecting the province as host, were the comprehensive results achieved in the rehabilitation of waste treatment systems, the sustainable management of its ten protected areas, and the eradication of sources of pollution.

During the national event to mark World Environment Day, the National Environment Award was presented to the Brisas Guardalavaca Hotel, in Holguín; the Center for Environmental Education, belonging to the Enrique José Varona Pedagogical University, Havana; the Center for Studies of Applied Chemistry, of the Marta Abreu Central University of Villa Clara; and Roger Eduardo Rivero, principal researcher of the Department of Applied Meteorology, belonging to the Camagüey Meteorological Center.