U.S.- Cuba-Canada Collaboration in Fighting COVID-19

National Network On Cuba & Canadian Network On Cuba Campaign

How can you help?

ICAP Message to the World Movement of Solidarity with Cuba in the Time of Covid-19 

Havana, 9 April, 2020
 

To the World Movement of Solidarity with Cuba
 

Dear friends,

With deep humanistic conviction, the government and people of Cuba offer the world, once again, the example of militant Solidarity at a time when the planet is facing the global pandemic of the new Coronavirus Sars Cov-2, Covid-19, which has already claimed the lives of more than 70 thousand people in the world in a very short time.

In the time of Covid-19 the eyes of the world look with hope to Cuba and Cuba, in the midst of an inhuman and genocidal blockade, did not hesitate to respond that with an army of white coats made up of more than 593 health professionals, of them 338 Women, organized in 15 brigades of the Henry Reeve Contingent, already provide their services in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, faithful to the Martian and fidelity maxim, ratified by our President Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez. “Cuba does not go around begging, sisterly”.

Contrary to our humble gesture, President Trump encourages insulting anti-Cuban campaigns to try to discredit the principles of humanity and solidarity on which our medical collaboration defending health care as a human right rests.

This is the time in which the inefficiency of consumer societies of the capitalist system is reveled, as a result of the anti-popular policies of neoliberal governments subordinated to big capital and US imperialism. Humankind demands solidarity as never before. It is urgent to unite and promote international cooperation.

Our institute proudly recognizes the support of the friendship associations, political organizations, members of Parliament, trade unionists and other political forces that make up the World Movement for Solidarity with Cuba, to our collaborators in the countries where they are already campaigning against Covid 19, as well such as the messages of appreciation sent to the government of Cuba and its people for the solidarity, humanist and altruistic dimension of the Revolution.

For our doctors also our special recognition, respect and admiration wherever they are. They are confronting this pandemic with altruism inside and outside Cuba, as a response of the call of the Cuban government to spread the humanitarian seed of Marti and Fidel, in opposition to actions like those of the United States and other NATO countries, which they spend huge military budgets to the detriment of the living conditions of their populations, fostering fear, hatred and hopelessness.

In the same line, we appreciate the permanent solidarity of the entire Movement that, now in the times of the new Coronavirus, has not stopped acting to demand the lifting of the blockade against Cuba, much more criminal in the current circumstances, also demanding the full application of Resolution “Necessity to end the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America”, approved in 2019 at the UN by the vast majority of its members.

Together we generate this battle that today tests solidarity between peoples and governments and when it happens, we will embrace with great joy for the victory against the pandemic that is striking us today, to give life to life and celebrate in brotherhood the 60th anniversary from our ICAP.

Fraternally,

Fernando González Llort
President

Cuban Voices on the Fight Against Covid-19

Irene Fernández Madruga, Santa Clara, March 30, 2020

Today in Cuba 2,681 people are reported hospitalized, suspected of having COVID-19, and four have already been discharged.  There are 170 confirmed cases with the disease, four deceased, four reported in very serious condition and three in serious condition. Almost all patients who died had other diseases such as diabetes, heart problems or acute respiratory problems.

In general, there is great concern on the part of the entire country. Cuban health personnel are doing the job of titans not only in our country but also abroad, thanks to the Henry Reed Brigade.  The Brigade has sent doctors and nurses to more than 45 countries. 
Recombinant Interferon Alpha 2-B, developed in Cuba, is being used to fight effects of COVID-19, not only to provide medical treatment to Cubans, but it has also been sent to all those countries.
 
I can tell you that there are three specialized laboratories in the country that are doing an in-depth study of people who test positive from the beginning of this epidemic. These Instituto Pedro Kouri (IPK) laboratories are located in La Habana, Villa Clara and in Santiago.  IPK is a national center that studies difficult diseases to establish in-depth knowledge of them and to achieve effective treatment and cure through medicine.

Liana Lopez Filpo, Tulipan, Cienfuegos, March 31, 2020
 
To begin, and friends of Cuba know this well, the public health system in Cuba is free.
Regarding COVID-19 that is attacking humanity on a global scale, there are conferences, interviews, press conferences from ministers and specialists of health and even from the president of our country, and these provide daily reports through the media. These reports inform the population of how the virus should be fought on personal, institutional and social levels, and they tell us how the country is doing with infected patients.

Information includes how many are infected daily, how many cured patients are discharged from the hospitals, how many deaths occur, etc.  We also are informed about how regulated and available basic necessities will be distributed.
 
The direction of leadership from national and state authorities in an emergency like COVID-19 involve the following: the areas of reduced defense, the forces of public order, as well as the public health forces which care for the population in general.  A primary focus is the means by which preventive measures against Covid-19 are provided to senior citizens  (who will receive food from family supported canteens) and to the population that wanders (who are not permanently housed).  
 
School classes were suspended but an education contract was created with Cuban television, so that students can continue their studies through educational channels so that when this pandemic is controlled, they can carry out the tests for the 2019-2020 academic year.
 
In some work centers, non-essential workers have been taking vacations. Children's circles continue to provide their services to the children of necessary workers who need childcare, workers such as doctors, nurses, workers in medical offices and workers in the polyclinics of each neighborhood.  This also includes all medical workers who are visiting all our homes to carry out COVID-19 health inquiries. State health workers make daily checks of their surrounding neighborhoods with the support of medical students, nurses and health technicians. Infected people are institutionalized in medical facilities with personnel and equipment to control the spread of virus infections.
 
Hotels, popular campgrounds and recreational and service institutions are closed. Food is being sold at reasonable prices to the population with the supplies from warehouses. The food is delivered to people’s homes so most of the general population does not need to leave their homes or go out on the streets.
 
This approach leaves the streets with the least possible population and all this helps authorities to take care of the population, to work to prevent infections, and to establish service centers. Some homemakers are cooking nasobucos (turnips), which are distributed among the population for the sake of protection of the respiratory tract, and also as assistance in supplying our communities with food.
 
Well, in general, this is more or less what our country is immersed in now, protecting our citizens in addition to providing international aid to other countries, including health personnel and equipment. Ja!

Silvino Morales Espinosa, Cienfuegos

LA SOLIDARIDAD NO ES DAR LO QUE SOBRA, SINO COMPARTIR LO QUE SE TIENE.
#ELBloqueoMata                                #PrimeroLaVida

In the context of the global pandemic, the Cuban people are, once again, an example of solidarity despite the 60-year old US economic blockade.
 
Today, Cuba faces the coronavirus pandemic with more than 90,000 doctors in Cuba and also in 17 countries with 15 Medical Brigades. It also supports 59 health systems in other countries.

Despite its great healthcare capacity, the economic blockade against the Cuban people is also a violation of one of the most important rights: the right to health. This economic-financial blockade of the United States against Cuba is the most unjust, severe and prolonged system of sanctions from one country to another, never before imposed. It is inhumane to think that the Cuban people, at this time of the global pandemic, cannot access medical equipment and supplies because the global commercial exchange companies fear economic sanctions.
 
Today the most important thing is life and that is why we express our resounding rejection of these imposed restrictions and we adhere to the demands and/or claims of the Latin American and Caribbean (Parlatino) Parliament, of the co-chairs of the Euro-Latin American Parliamentary Assembly (EuroLat), of the Group of Friendship and Solidarity with the people of Cuba in the European Parliament, of the Secretary General of the National African Congress, of the Group of Friendship Mexico-Cuba and the support of the European Union (EU) for the immediate suspension of all economic sanctions against Cuba.

En el contexto de la pandemia mundial el pueblo cubano es, una vez más, ejemplo de solidaridad a pesar del bloqueo económico que sufre hace ya 60 años por parte de Estados Unidos.
 
Hoy Cuba afronta la pandemia del coronavirus con más de 90,000 médicosque apoyan en Cuba y en 17 países con 15 Brigadas Médicas. Además apoya también en 59 sistemas de salud de otros países.

A pesar de su gran capacidad sanitaria, el bloqueo económico al pueblo cubano es, en este contexto, también una violación a uno de los derechos más importantes: el derecho a la salud. Este bloqueo económico-financiero de Estados Unidos a Cuba es el sistema de sanciones más injusto, severo y prolongado de un país a otro nunca antes impuesto. Es inhumano pensar que el pueblo cubano, en este momento de pandemia mundial, no pueda acceder a equipamiento e insumos médicos porque las empresas de intercambio comercial temen a sanciones económicas.
 
Hoy lo más importante es la vida y es por eso que expresamos nuestro rotundo rechazo a estas restricciones impuestas  y nos adherimos a las demandas y/o reclamos del Parlamento Latinoamericano  y Caribeño (Parlatino), de los copresidentes de la Asamblea Parlamentaria Euro-Latinoamericana (EuroLat), del Grupo de Amistad y Solidaridad con el pueblo de Cuba en el Parlamento Europeo, del Secretario general del Congreso National Africano, del Grupo de Amistad México-Cuba y el apoyode la Unión Europea (UE) a la suspensión inmediata de todas las sanciones económicas contra Cuba.