During his report to Parliament, Portal Miranda highlighted Cuba's confrontation with Covid-19.   Photo: @PresidenciaCuba

By María Josefina Arce 

Cuban science, always at the service of the welfare of the people, had a prominent place in the VII Ordinary Period of Sessions of the IX Legislature of the National Assembly of People's Power, which on behalf of all Cubans recognized the work of these men and women who have bet on life in this long battle against COVID-19.

The work carried out for almost two years has been intense, without rest, and has required a great effort to overcome the material limitations imposed by the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States for almost six decades.

But the country has a committed and highly prepared scientific community, thanks to the importance always given to this sector by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, who knew how to see the role that science should play in the country's progress.  

The truth is that Cuban science today is the result of that long-term vision, of Fidel's vision of the future. His revolutionary and innovative work proposals made it possible to bring together in a common front the most prestigious scientists with the best results, thus initiating a new stage in that sphere.

In fact, the joint work between health authorities, universities, the biotechnological sector and other research and production institutions made it possible to provide a better response to the disease caused by the new coronavirus.

A reality highlighted by the Cuban Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, during his report to Parliament on the results of the fight against COVID-19. In his speech, the Minister underlined that the work of our researchers allowed that independence which, as Fidel emphasized, depends on technology, on science.

And it is a fact that Cuba is currently carrying out a successful vaccination campaign with its own immunogens, as a result of the efforts of our scientific community and the political will of the authorities, who have always promoted the development of this sector.

But also during this time, other drugs have been developed, which have contributed to reduce the severity of the disease, which has so far caused a little more than five million deaths in the world.

 Scientists have also been involved in the development of prognosis models, which, Portal Miranda pointed out, have shed light on the progress of the disease and have served as a guide, together with other research, to improve the clinical protocol for dealing with the disease.

The Caribbean nation also has a mechanism for the care of convalescents and studies of renal, neurological, pulmonary and psychological sequelae, among others.

Invaluable have been the contributions of our scientific community in these months of pandemic, which have enabled a better and quicker response. The great role played has been summarized by the Cuban president, Miguel Díaz Canel, when he emphasized that Cuban science saves lives.