Speaking to the press, Martinez, who is a member of the American College of Cardiology and works at the Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey, said that there is much to learn from Cuban medicine, which in addition to being provided free of charge despite financial limitations, manages to do a great deal for the health of the nation’s inhabitants.

“Cuba’s results in the field of Cardiology are fabulous, and should be known by the world scientific community,” Dr. Martinez said, who noted the quality of Cuban specialists who have the ability to serve everyone who needs treatment.

He insisted that it is important to come to Cuba to events like this, to share and exchange common experiences in the field of Cardiology, because we have the same problems with cholesterol, arrhythmias, damage caused to smokers, and other pathologies that affect the heart.

The gathering of some 400 specialists was also attended by Professor Giovanni Pedrazzini, president of the Swiss Society of Cardiology, who highlighted the quality of Cuban medicine, which amidst many limitations maintains all its services.

During a presentation offered within the framework of the event, Pedrazzini said that if something merits attention in the case of Cuba, it is the joint work of its institutions that, despite limited resources, make the most of the country’s indisputable medical talent.

(Granma)

On the second day of sessions, nearly 400 delegates are also debating on the new forms of non-state management, direct foreign investment and foreign trade, training on economics and accountability, audits and public control and administration.

On Wednesday, Economy and Planning Minister Alejandro Gil gave a lecture on the importance of productive chains, which he described as a major need for the country.

He also noted the need for local development based on the endogenous resources of each territory, and called to disconnect from the dependence on imports.

For his part, ANEC President Oscar Luis Hung referred to nearly 80,000 members of the organization who are committed to improving Cuba’s economy.

He added that over the past five years, the ANEC has developed strong alliances with agencies and institutions.

Hung highlighted the training of delegates, people’s council presidents and other officials from the People’s Power Economic Commissions to master the tools for supervision and control. The Congress, being held under the slogan Contributing to Development, aims to find solutions to the problems affecting Cuba’s economy.

(Prensa Latina)

Raúl was accompanied by José Ramón Machado Ventura, second secretary of the PCC Central Committee, who also participated in the Congress plenary session, held on Thursday.

The debates among 480 delegates and several dozen guests since Wednesday, have focused on specifics of the structure of the organization, with a view to finding alternatives in line with the times, which will allow it to more effectively carry out its work.

Issues such as the need to address social indiscipline and criminal activities that are to the detriment of Cuban society; the need to enhance ideological and political work; care for families; as well as ensure neighborhood unity, in order to build and defend the Revolution, were addressed in three work commissions.

Today will also see the announcement of the new national secretariat of the organization, elected yesterday by delegates.

Cuba’s community-based Committees for the Defense of the Revolution were founded in 1960, and today the mass organization has more than eight million members nationwide.

(With information from ACN)

During a workshop on Communication and Media at the 24th Meeting of the Forum of Sao Paulo, the Latin American news agency also convened an important meeting of journalists and international media in Havana on January 21 and 22.

Jorge Luna, director of Social Communication at Prensa Latina, stressed that it is a meeting to cover the major professional problems that threaten current and future generations of journalists.

Dangers of Latin American journalism, alternative media and globalization and the use of new technologies are some of the issues that will be addressed by the specialists, he said.

These debates will take place in the framework of the commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Prensa Latina, an agency that emerged after the realization of ‘Operacion Verdad’ (Truth Operation), which brought together, in 1959, 400 journalists to know the reality of Cuba, targeted by hostile campaigns from international agencies.

The workshop was attended by dozens of specialists from the region, who agreed on the need to coordinate the communication actions of the popular forces against the media campaigns of governments and right-wing media.

(Prensa Latina)

The director of the International Institute of Journalism Jose Marti, Ariel Terrero, led the debate with the presentation of the paper ‘The Press Model Cuba Dreams With.’

Terrero pointed out the need for socialism to build a more truthful, attractive and higher-quality press than in capitalism, in line with the information needs of human beings.

In this regard, he urged the media and its professionals to commit themselves to a model capable of timely reporting to the people and defending the national identity and culture, independence, sovereignty and dignity of Cuba.

Several delegates to the congress, installed yesterday at the Havana Convention Center, intervened to highlight the importance of reflecting the reality of the country and its people in a critical and constructive manner.

They also addressed the need for access to sources that guarantee the disclosure of information relevant to society.

In this regard, they called for a greater presence in the media of officials linked to sensitive sectors and issues of high social interest.

Other participants in the forum, which brings together more than 260 delegates from across the country, called for the promotion of a deep, ethical and professional journalism, framed in the process of updating Cuban socialism.

The 10th Congress of the UPEC -an organization that brings together almost 4,000 workers in the sector- culminates this Saturday after two days of debates, focused on the recently approved Communication Policy of the State and Government.

The Communication Policy has among its principles the ratification of the social ownership of the media and the public nature of the broadcasting and telecommunications services.

In the same way, it insists on the right of people to information, communication and knowledge, and prioritizes access to information and communication technologies.

(Prensa Latina)

Other issues that will be under discussion are the use of social media and ways to handle the continued defamation campaign against Cuba and false news reporting.

Participants in this event will work in five committees: UPEC functioning, Ethics and communication, Media aggression against Cuba, Innovation and new technologies, and Content management.

According to the program, the UPEC National Committee will be presented, and after the initial debates, the Statutes and the Code of Ethics will be put to vote.

Delegates will also elect the Union’s president and approve the plan of action for the next five years.

The Congress will be dedicated to the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro; the 55th anniversary of UPEC (founded on July 15, 1963); and Antonio Molto, late president of the Union who passed away in August 2017.

(Prensa Latina)

Many labels are used for the same phenomenon – well-funded, desperate attempts to incite youth to forget their history, to supplant their culture.

One such subversion effort directed toward youth in Cuba was revealed in 2015, when the World Learning summer program in the U.S. was offered with the objective of training “leaders” for political change on the island.

Alejandro Sánchez, who attended the World Learning program and is now a student at the University of Havana, explained during the FEU Congress that, once the group of Cuban youth had arrived in the United States, the program’s coordinators made clear that they were considered an investment and insisted that they implement the projects presented in Cuba.

May these tricks not blind us, Sánchez said, recalling the experience, strengthening our preparation, maintaining and defending our values and national identity must be a priority for all. Let us hold fast to our principles.

(Granma)

In addition to the official opening of the Congress at Havana’s Convention Center, the structure of the National Council and the candidacy for the national secretariat of FEU will be presented and approved today.

Later, the delegates will work in five commissions: Organic functioning, Political-ideological work, Teaching and research, University extension and Communications.

The congress will conclude on Sunday with the presentation of the elected national secretariat, a tribute to the historic leaders of the FEU and the Cuban Revolution, and the final declaration of the event.

University students participated yesterday in pre-congress meetings with representatives of several government institutions.

A student march to the University of Havana was also held on Friday night, to pay tribute to the FEU’s martyrs.

The delegates ratified their support for the Revolution and its historic leader, Fidel Castro, and the organization’s commitment to the ideals of independence.

(Prensa Latina)

There are many reasons that motivate us to make the world proletariat’s day a great demonstration of support for the Revolution, for Raúl, and the Party – in a new context of tribute to our historic leader Fidel Castro Ruz, in which we reaffirm our determination to fulfill the concept of Revolution he bequeathed to us.

Along with this, we have transcendental commemorations, expressions of the heroic traditions of struggle that make us proud to be Cuban and enrich the history of our homeland, such as the 165th anniversary of our national hero José Martí; the 150th of the initiation of our independence wars; the 65th of the assaults on Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespedes Garrisons; and the 60th of the triumph of the Revolution.

This May Day, from all of trade union structures, we will call on workers to turn the complexities of the economic panorama facing the country into “productive victories,” concretizing productivity, conservation, and quality with efficient practices in every factory of our industrial base, in teaching, research and service activities, very conscious of responsibility of the working class to generate the wealth our people demand to meet their needs, and the only feasible way to raise the real income of workers.

In compact, lively parades, demonstrations, and events in plazas across the country, the demand will be repeated for an end to the criminal, genocidal, economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed on Cuba for 56 years, and now being reinforced. We will demand the return of territory illegally occupied by the Guantánamo Naval Base, and denounce the arrogant, interventionist attitude of the current United States government.

Compatriots:

The day’s celebration will be characterized by patriotism, joy, and the individual and collective recognition of vanguard experiences, as well as the contribution of workers to the process of updating the Cuban, economic, social model, which on the basis of a sovereign decision we continue building.

We will emphasize the examples and teachings of working class leaders like Lázaro Peña González, Jesús Menéndez Larrondo, José María Pérez, and Alfredo López, among others who identify different trade unions and represent the highest values of our workers.

We reaffirm the support of Cuba’s working class to the sister peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, impacted by the right wing offensive sustained by huge media campaigns meant to destabilize progressive governments, in particular that of the threatened Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, intent upon defending its sovereignty and self- determination.

Through different social organizations, we will continue to participate in the battle for political, economic, social, and cultural integration of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

Once again we express our solidarity with trade union organizations which around the world struggle for the recognition of the legitimate rights of workers, facing the hegemonic power of their employers and the ever-present exploitation of capitalist regimes and their neoliberal policies.

Working men and women of Cuba:

This May Day, we will give another resounding demonstration of the indestructible unity of our heroic people; with our Party and Revolution we reiterate the commitment assumed by workers to the revolution’s works, and will once again show the world our capacity for struggle and our firm conviction that we will always reach victory.

Long live International Workers’ Day!

Long live Fidel and Raúl!

Onward to victory, always!

Specialists from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Spain and Italy, as well as the host country Cuba, will participate in Histarmed, organized by the Medical Sciences University of Havana, from March 8th.

The program includes topics such as Great Warriors, their pathobiographies, and History of Art, and lectures such as ‘Doctors seen by painters’ and ‘Vincent van Gogh: artistic expression and lead poisoning’.

Other topics of the event are addiction to new technologies in early childhood and a lecture on humor from history, art and medicine.

Participants will be able to approach to the link of history with microbiology in Cuba, as well as homeopaths in the wars for independence in the second half of the 19th century and the events that contributed to the development of neurosciences.

Histarmed, to be hosted by the Conference Center of Cojimar, in Habana del Este, will run until March 10th.

(Prensa Latina)