In its Twitter account, the military high command pointed out that “as long as drug production, consumption and trafficking issues continue to be handled with hypocrisy, as an instrument of manipulation and imperial blackmail, we will be further and further away from saving humanity from this scourge every day.” ”.

“Venezuela does and will do its job without rhetoric or rest,” he stressed.

The Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Relations published a statement this Saturday in which it strongly rejected the Joe Biden Administration’s memorandum on drug-producing countries and condemned its interventionist role.

The note described the publication, released on September 15, as inconsistent, infamous and legally lacking, in which the United States refers to “the main countries that produce illicit drugs or transit important drugs for fiscal year 2023.”

Venezuela condemned the role of the US Administration in pretending “to be the policeman of the international arena and to persist in the imposition of extraterritorial policies.”

That text disregards the faithful compliance with the international commitments of the Bolivarian Government, whose tenor to address the permanent fight against illicit drug trafficking “has been under the foundations of the UN and in total aversion to unilateral practices of politicized evaluation,” he added. the.

It is ostensible, he said, that since the expulsion of the Drug Control Administration of Venezuela, his government achieved “with sovereign policies, the largest seizures and confiscations in history.”

Likewise, he stated, “he has waged war without quarter” against drug traffickers and irregular groups outside the law, thus registering in 2021, the record for the seizure of 51 tons of drugs in more than 5,000 procedures.

The Biden government published a memorandum this Thursday in which Venezuela is included in the list of the main drug transit and production countries.

In its memorandum, the US identifies Venezuela, Afghanistan, Bahamas, Belize, Myanmar, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru and the Dominican Republic as “major drug transit countries” or “illicit drug producers” by 2023.

In the text, published on the website of the Department of State, the US indicates that the presence of a nation on that list “does not constitute a reflection of the efforts made by its Government against drugs or the level of cooperation with the United States.” Joined”.

In addition, he mentioned Venezuela, Afghanistan, Myanmar and Bolivia “for having demonstrably failed to comply with their responsibility to make substantial efforts during the preceding 12 months to observe the obligations they assumed under international agreements against drug trafficking.”

(With information from Prensa Latina and EFE)

Cuba’s BioCubaFarma Enterprise Group and the British company SG Innovations Limited has announced the creation of a new company, BioFarma Innovations, focused on accelerating the development of new medications and their distribution in Europe and the British Commonwealth, according to a joint statement, made available to Granma.

The new partnership aims to provide broader access to BioCubaFarma’s patent-protected portfolio of biopharmaceutical products, developed by the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry in Cuba.

Amidst the global crisis and threats to public health systems, BioFarma Innovations will expand distribution networks and increase accessibility around the planet to Cuban products, including those being used to combat COVID-19.

Clinical trials of several products developed by BioCubaFarma for the treatment of the new coronavirus have shown promising results in several countries.

BioFarma Innovations’ strategic approach is based on the development and commercialization, in Europe and the Commonwealth, of a portfolio of patented biopharmaceutical products; providing access to BioCubaFarma’s expertise worldwide; promoting investment in new product development, including clinical trials and new drug launches.

BioFarma Innovations will be based in the UK, and Lord David Triesman, who will assume the role of CEO of the new company, has over 40 years experience with the National Health Service.

Commenting on the new partnership, Dr. Eduardo Martínez Díaz, president of BioCubaFarma, noted, “In line with our mission to prioritize public health, we are offering a dynamic, open approach to collaboration with global pharmaceutical companies and public health agencies throughout Europe and the Commonwealth, ranging from licensing to joint development and research agreements.”

(Source: Granma)

Winner of a National Prize from the Cuban Academy of Sciences in 2014, this humanized monoclonal antibody has been part of the medical care protocol for COVID-19 in Cuba since April.

The World Intellectual Property Organization’s 2015 Gold Medal winner, Itolizumab is a molecule that was developed by CIM for the treatment of lymphomas and leukemias. The antibody is capable of blocking the proliferation and activation of T-lymphocytes, behaving as an immunomodulator.

In a study on the island, 60% of COVID patients in serious or critical condition, who received the medication, recovered their respiratory functioning and survived these severe stages of the disease, as reported on the BioCubaFarma website.

Thanks to the vision of Comandante en Jefe Fidel Castro, Cuba has developed a powerful biotechnology industry, which has focused on saving lives during the epidemic, here and around the world.

The prestige of this sector’s accomplishments continues to rise, with evidence abounding of the effectiveness of the antiviral Recombinant Human Interferon Alpha 2b in the treatment of COVID-19.

During this difficult time, interest in acquiring Cuban interferon, distributed internationally under the name of Heberon, has been expressed by some 80 countries.

(Source: Granma)

Antonio Israel Ybarra Suarez, head of the Cuban delegation to the 61st session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), congratulated himself at the plenary session of the meeting for the insignificant incidence of that scourge in his country, despite its geographical location in an area of significant traffic.

The CND representative and Secretary of the National Drug Commission, remarked that, as a result of the political will and commitment of the Cuban State and government, the effects of this scourge on the internal order are reduced.

After highlighting the importance of the work of this session, as part of the preparatory process for the Special High-Level Segment to be held in 2019, he said it will be a space to reiterate Cuba’s commitment to cooperate with the region and the entire international community to face narcotics.

Ybarra Suarez reiterated his country’s support to the work of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, without undermining its functions or duplicity in other multilateral forums.

Cuba reaffirms at the same time its commitments and obligations as a State member of the three United Nations Conventions that make up the international legal framework of the global drug control regime, he said.

Ybarra Suarez agreed that drug control policies should focus on the well-being from individual and prevent violence and crime.

The Cuban delegation also includes Chargé d’Affaires Marieta García Jordán, and third secretaries, Susette Hernández González and Beatriz Lauzarique Montiel.

The CND, the main body responsible for formulating policies of the United Nations drug control system, is holding the current session from March 12 to 16, 2018, in the Austrian capital.

(Prensa Latina)

Achieving this balance of enforcement and preventative efforts has been possible thanks to the joint work of diverse institutions and society, aspects which were addressed during a recent Mesa Redonda, television news program.

Colonel Juan Carlos Poey Guerra, head of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint)

National Anti-Drug Directorate, highlighted the strengthening of preparation and participation of mass organizations and government bodies involved in the effort, as part of the National Commission on Drugs, which will reach its 20 years of existence in 2018.

This work implies ongoing analysis of the phenomenon and current trends, with a view toward minimizing its possible impact and carrying out active monitoring on the community level to identify people who need help, provide rehabilitation, and support their reintegration into society.
Colonel Juan Carlos Poey Guerra, head of the Ministry of the Interior National Anti-Drug Directorate. Photo: Roberto Garaycoa Martínez

Joining hands toward this end are the ministries of Education; Labor and Social Security; Culture; Higher Education; the National Institute for Sports, Physical Education and Recreation; as well as student and youth organizations.

Poey Guerra explained, “The action model is being perfected given events related to drugs in educational centers; the public police forces’ preventative work is being strengthened; and a national warning system established to evaluate every incident in a timely fashion.”

The integration of actors is vital to confronting drugs, he insisted, saying, “The leadership of the country’s principal bodies, agencies, and mass organizations have received information on the risks, trends, and threats, with a view toward updating all strategies and impacting delinquency in all arenas.

“Minit’s ministerial system of enforcement – in conjunction with the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), the General Customs of the Republic (AGR), and the people – have been strengthening our discovery and investigation skills in the principal arenas of delinquent behavior, which is centered along the coastline, mountainous areas, and the national borders,” Poey Guerra continued.

He explained that the deployment of Border Patrol forces and equipment, with support from the population via “Mirando al mar” (sea watch) teams, has limited the influence of organized crime and drug traffickers in the country.

In 2017, 251 drug drops were intercepted, with 4.5 tons of drugs confiscated within national territory. These drop-offs represent a potential risk as supply sources, and were fully investigated, leading to the identification of those responsible in 18 cases, and the arrest of 65 Cubans involved, the Minit Colonel reported.

To better protect airport borders, technical equipment has been acquired to check passengers, which has been key to the detection of ingested drugs.

“The development of canine techniques has played a very important role, as well as the collaboration of Minit with Border authorities, and administrations. During 2017, practical exercises were conducted in international airports to stop the entry of drugs. Toward this end, ongoing training of troops intervening in the process is carried out,” he said.

International cooperation with counterparts has been of great value, and penal assistance is being developed with organizations like Interpol, the World Customs Organization, and other institutions.

“Increased enforcement and response based on the integrated work of all actors in our country has been decisive in confronting drug trafficking and the organization of an internal market. This effort has prevented the use of our country as a bridge for international trafficking and the establishment of a domestic network to sell drugs. But the need for improvement continues because the threats and complexities are now greater,” Poey Guerra explained.

ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR PREVENTION

The issue of drugs is of concern on a world scale, and youth are the main victims in countries where enforcement is not articulated effectively, commented

Susely Morfa González, first secretary of the Young Communists League, on the Mesa Redonda program.

She emphasized that our country can count on the unity of many actors, with institutions protecting children, adolescents, and youth against this scourge. In Cuba, she recalled, detox and rehabilitation services, that in other parts of the world are very expensive, are guaranteed as a right.

The national public health system has since 2013 implemented strategies directed toward children, according to Dr. Idelys Calvero Aris. We work on the perception of risk, educating about the risks associated with a first try, she said.

All the system’s institutions within communities are involved in the active monitoring work in every neighborhood; the careful accounting of medications, at all levels, from prescription to their acquisition at a pharmacy. the greatest emphasis is, however, placed on the promotion of health and education, to foment the culture of never again, and not starting.

This first contact with drugs must be prevented, when adolescents are looking for the new, in a stage of life when they think they are indestructible, that nothing will happen to them. Many times it is curiosity that motivates trying alcohol, cigarettes, psychotropic substances, or even harder drugs.

Thus the need for families, the community, schools, and health care providers to be alert, Dr. Calvero stated, emphasizing that drug use is a multi-dimensional problem, and therefore requires an integrated preventive approach, with the participation of all, as the only way to avoid the damage drug abuse causes.

The country’s educational centers play an important role given their mission of preparing students for life, stated Dr. Irene Rivera Ferreiro, deputy minister of Education.

Over the years, she said, we have gained experience in confronting this problem, even though it has not been considered a major issue in our society, it has not gone unnoticed.

The Ministry of Education (Mined), she explained, “proposes that the issue of drugs be given a preventative focus at all levels of learning. We promote a culture of rejection.”

This academic year, the ministry is focusing on the training of teachers, families, and students. Along these lines, Dr. Rivera stated, “Teachers have the primary responsibility of sensitizing families, so that there is better coordination and coherence with the home, in terms of the youngest.”

She continued saying that educational materials, available to all, have been produced, such as Luces para la vida, a book that “is not about drugs, but rather helps to develop basic life skills, such as managing stress and emotions. If they internalize these aspects, they will be able to say ‘no’ to drugs.”

Contests, applications for cell phones, educational video games, and audio-visuals are among the materials the ministry has developed, to alert Cuban families to the dangers of illicit drug use.

Each school has its own strategy, Dr. Rivera said, although the ministry works closely with “regions or centers where specific cases emerge, or where criminal acts have occurred, to join the institution’s leadership in protecting students.”

The work is a joint effort involving the ministry, youth organizations, the justice system, youth protection authorities, and mental health departments.

YOUTH TAKING THE LEAD

“The UJC (Young Communists League) is not only a political organization, but also has the mission of promoting the highest values among adolescents and youth within our socialist system and our Revolution,” stated Susely Morfa.

It is imperative to build consciousness about the situation in which we live, she said, a situation much different from that of our parents, marked by the development of new technology, be it in the form of television series or video games which legitimize the success of individuals tied to the world of drugs. This is part of the effort to influence the minds of our youth, manipulate them, and encourage harmful habits of consumption, she added.

The Ministry of Education, Dr. Rivera reported, is training promoters: youth and adolescents who within schoolrooms and on campuses help and educate their own classmates to avoid drugs.

The idea came from students themselves. A survey conducted by the ministry showed that 33% of adolescents and youth talk with their peers and friends about the issue.

Morfa noted that outstanding work has been done by organizations like the Federation of Secondary School Students (FEEM), which has made a significant effort to train more than 10,000 promoters, who effectively communicate their ideas via the language and media used by different social groups.

“The multi-dimensional work of these groups with different ministries allows their impact to be felt in thousands of educational centers throughout the country, reaching more than 160,000 students and more than 170,000 parents, to work jointly in consolidating family awareness and the education of our youth,” she said.

“Confronting drugs is a task for the entire people, a task in which we must all act with skill and intelligence, amidst the crisis of values that characterizes the world today.”

(Granma)