Health is a priority

Affirms Cuban Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Rosa Elena Simeón. Reiterates the island’s proposal to contribute 4,000 doctors to fight AIDS in Africa.

August 27, 2002 BY LINO ORAMAS (Granma daily Special correspondent)

JOHANNESBURG.- The initiative launched two years ago concerning Cuba’s willingness to send 4,000 of its doctors to Africa to fight AIDS was reiterated by Rosa Elena Simeón, minister of science, technology and the environment (CITMA) at the Sustainable Development Summit taking place at the Sandton Conventions Center, Johannesburg.

The Cuban proposal, focused on a region where each year tens of thousands of people die from the disease, emerged during the Millenium Summit at the United Nations. According to reliable sources, less than one fifth of the money needed to finance the program has been made available.

The Cuban minister stated that she was ratifying the proposal repeatedly made by her country at international forums to develop a cooperative program to combat AIDS, in which Cuba would provide its technical capacity, with funding coming from the developed nations.

She added that Cuba makes available to the Third World countries medicines that are beyond the financial reach of those nations in terms of covering the entire population.

“If a Sustainable Development Summit is aimed at the main species that should be preserved - human beings - then the theme of health is a priority,” commented Rosa Elena Simeón.

Cuba’s representative also mentioned that health and environmental factors are closely linked. Over 25% of preventative diseases are directly related to water quality, sanitation, atmospheric contamination, plus disorders that can be cured in this day and age, she explained.

More than six million people in the developing world die from water-transmitted diseases and air pollution; more than 267 million people are suffering from diseases that have virtually been eradicated, the so-called emergent illnesses being seen today, and above all the pandemic that pervades all humanity and is undoubtedly a great conflict: AIDS, continued the minister.

Cuba’s healthcare system covers the entire country, she highlighted, proudly giving the example that in the first six months of this year the island’s infant mortality rate was 6.2 for every 1,000 live births.

“I think that we have a lot to offer the countries of the South in this field,” she added.

The minister explained that Cuba has 59.8 doctors for every 10,000 inhabitants and has offered support in this important sector to the international community, above all to the Third World countries. At the moment, 44 mainly Third World nations receive the voluntarily services of Cuban medical personnel.

She likewise recalled that over 2,000 students from various countries are studying medicine on the island, “with the aim of adding another small contribution to this great battle for human beings’ quality of life.”

Returning to the needs of our countries, she expressed that “our actions can prevent many things, both on the environmental and health fronts, but preventing and avoiding disease is much more economical than treating it.” At the end of her speech, Rosa Elena Simeón congratulated South Africa for organizing the Summit.