October 27, 2002

Havana- Mozambican biologists are preparing to travel to Cuba to take part in specialist courses at the Cuban Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, according to Mozambique's Deputy Health Minister, Aida Libombo.

Libombo, who is accompanying Prime Minister Pascoal Mocumbi on an official visit to Cuba, told AIM that the preparations to send two Mozambican biologists to Cuba are now well advanced. On Friday the Mozambican delegation visited the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Centre, and Libombo said she was very impressed. She stressed Mozambique's interest in increasing its cooperation with Cuba, particularly in the area of health care and training. On Saturday, Mocumbi and Libombo visited "Los Cocos", a sanitorium that treats patients suffering from HIV/AIDS. Since 1986, 4,350 Cubans have been diagnosed as infected with HIV, and 1,083 of them have died.

Doctors at the sanitorium told Mocumbi that the main weapon to combat the spread of AIDS in Cuba is "political will", as well as a programme through the national health service aimed specifically at blood donors and pregnant women.