Developments Overseas
Cuba�s gains in providing health care: Health for all

Basahin ang artikulong ito sa Pilipino

Millions of people in Cuba commemorated the 45th anniversary of the revolution on January 1. On this day, they celebrated Cuba�s continued success in resisting US imperialism and building a society

Cuba has reaped admirable victories in biotechnology. The Cubans� experience demonstrate the capacity of a small and self-reliant country to achieve progress in science and technology despite the imposition of an economic embargo by US imperialism. Cubans and other people of the world greatly benefit from Cuba�s establishment of its own drug industry.

The Cuban government�s determination and efforts to develop biotechnology are geared towards providing the people not only with effective but with advanced health care services. Its health care system for the people is exemplary.

In order for everyone to have access to health services, there is a doctor assigned to every community in Cuba. Hospital services are free. The government attaches great importance to educating the people on the prevention of diseases and epidemics.

Part of the programs for disease prevention is providing free vaccination for the people. The vaccination of almost 100% of Cubans has resulted in the eradication of diseases like polio, measles, malaria, tetanus and diphtheria. It is said that Cuba has the largest percentage of vaccinated people in the whole world.

Cuba also has the lowest percentage of the population with AIDS in the Americas, and one of the lowest in the world. The National Commission on AIDS was established in Cuba in 1983 even though there was not a single Cuban with AIDS then. The Cuba-wide program was launched in 1985 to identify those who were HIV-positive. There are free sanatoria in various parts of the country that take in those who have been tested positive for HIV and AIDS and provide them with proper nutrition, housing and education about the illness and its medication. At present, there has been a significant reduction in the number of people in Cuba who die of AIDS because of the anti-HIV medication manufactured in the country.

Comprehensive prenatal care has resulted in one of the lowest infant mortality rates (6.5 in every 1,000 for the year 2002). The average Cuban life span of 76 years is the highest in Latin America.

There is one doctor for every 200 Cubans. There are 21 medical schools in the country that graduate 4,000 doctors every year. Anyone may aspire to become a doctor because the entire educational system is free and subsidized by the Cuban government.

Even the imperialist countries and their paid propagandists cannot deny Cuba�s effectiveness in advancing health programs for the people. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has awarded Pres. Fidel Castro twice with the Health for All medal (1988 and 1998). Only Cuba has satisfied the standard set by the WHO for health care systems that underdeveloped countries should develop by the year 2000. Cuba reached the standard as early as 1983.

Cuba did not have its own pharmaceutical industry before the victory of the revolution in 1959. At present, however, Cuba can manufacture almost all kinds of medicines existing worldwide. Cubans manufacture 85% of the over 1,000 types of medicines they consume.

In addition, Cuba is one of the leading countries in the research and manufacture of new medicines and vaccines. Its most recent successes include the following:

• the creation of the only vaccine against meningitis-B
• the creation of a vaccine against hepatitis-B
• research and finalization of a vaccine against cholera
• the creation of a vaccine against hemophilic influenza type B
• research and experimentation of a potential vaccine against AIDS that has successfully passed the animal-testing stage and is now undergoing the first stage of human clinical trials.
• the creation of a drug that dissolves coagulated blood in heart attack victims
• the creation of a cream made from human placenta to treat certain skin diseases
• the creation of an ointment that hastens the healing of skin burns.

Cubans also have effective methods for diagnosing and treating cancer. They likewise have advanced experience and knowledge in other types of operations, such as the treatment of eye diseases and debilitating illnesses like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson�s disease.

Cubans have been able to achieve these victories in biotechnology and health services because of the Cuban government�s independent and propeople orientation. Because the principal consideration in launching these programs is the people�s welfare, Cuba is sure to reap the benefits of science and technology and is able to count on the cooperation of the entire people.

21 January 2004
English Edition

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