The Third International Cuba-Heath Convention 2018, entitled “Universal healthcare for sustainable development” – a space for scientific reflection taking place in Havana’s International Conference Center April 23-27, and the 14th Health For All Trade Fair, being held alongside the main event at the Pabexpo fairgrounds, represent action taken toward achieving this goal.

In this sense, “Cuba’s experiences and achievements in the field of health are extremely important for the world, firstly because they come from a country with many difficulties, which continues to suffer an economic blockade; from a country with few resources, but that managed to be the first to officially eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis; a county that eradicated malaria in 1970, as well as 12 other vaccine-preventable disease, to become one of the nations with the highest life-expectancy rate in the region, where the infant mortality rate is just four per 1,000 live births and work is underway to take these achievements even further, noted Cristian Morales Furihman, Pan American Health Organization representative in Cuba.

“These achievements are important given their impact on the health and well-being of the population, but also show that it is possible, that other countries can achieve these kinds of results with a system based on primary care, rooted in the community, and able to adequately respond to the health needs of the population. Any country can achieve this drawing in part from the lessons that Cuba can teach the world, and this convention is an important moment to share such experience,” he stated.

Over 150 personalities and 2,000 delegates from some 80 countries worldwide will be attending Cuba-Health 2018, according to Ileana Morales Suárez, Minsap Director of Science and Technological Innovation and executive secretary of the event.

(Granma)

The agreements were signed by Cuban Minister of Foreign Trade and Investment, Rodrigo Malmierca; and Chen Xi, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China on the island.

Xi also presented Cuba with a donation of one million USD to support recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Irma.

In this same vein, China sent more humanitarian aid to the Caribbean nation, including supplies for power generators, water pumps and purifiers, sheets, towels, and folding beds, among other equipment and products.

“We want to work together with the Cuban people in their recovery, given the ties that unite us and go beyond the financial aspect,” stated Chen.

Malmierca thanked China for its support and solidarity.

The signing of these documents reaffirms the willingness of both governments and peoples to strengthen and expand bilateral economic and commercial relations, and in so doing give continuity to various projects.

(Granma)