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The Cuban regime donated to Venezuela some 30,000 doses of polio vaccine, while the Island is going through a dire health crisis.
According to the Chavista outlet TeleSur, the donation was made to strengthen the Expanded Program of Immunization. The shipment was unloaded this Saturday at Arturo Michelena International Airport in Carabobo state.
The vaccines will be administered to newborns and children under 5 years old, in all 24 states of the country, said the director of the Expanded Immunization Program, Nury Valderrama.
In a triumphant tone, Venezuelan Health Minister Magaly Gutiérrez stated that the immunization plan will be carried out "despite the countless sanctions imposed by the U.S. government on Venezuela," following the official rhetoric promoted by Nicolás Maduro and the Cuban government, which blames the U.S. for the crisis in both countries.
The regime in Havana has offered vaccines, drugs and technological capacity to produce them to countries in Latin America.
Last year, the Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, made an offer to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and all countries in the region during his speech at the XI Pan American Conference for the Harmonization of Pharmaceutical Regulation (CPARF), which took place in Mexico.
The official expressed "Cuba's readiness to offer its technical capacity and experience in the production of medicines, biotechnological products, and vaccines to the Pan American Health Organization and all countries in the region, as well as the progress achieved by the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices (CECMED)."
The Health official added that the self-sufficiency of medicines in the region must "move beyond the technical sphere and reach public policies that promote regional cooperation and support everyone's right to health."
However, a month earlier, he had acknowledged that the shortage of medications would continue in the pharmacy network throughout the country.
The regime continues to attribute the crisis to the economic embargo, the rising costs of raw materials, and the high cost of shipping, and acknowledges that the issues range from production and importation to the distribution of medications in community pharmacies and institutions.
Eighty percent of the medications dispensed in pharmacies are produced by the national industry, but in Cuba, only 30% of the essential medicine list is supplied.
Frequently asked questions about the donation of Cuban vaccines to Venezuela and the health crisis in Cuba
How many doses of polio vaccines did Cuba donate to Venezuela?
Cuba donated to Venezuela about 30,000 doses of vaccines against polio, aimed at strengthening the Expanded Immunization Program in that country.
Why is Cuba donating vaccines in the midst of its own health crisis?
Despite the health crisis in Cuba, the regime has decided to donate vaccines to Venezuela as part of its international cooperation policy and to strengthen its alliance with the government of Nicolás Maduro. This action is part of Cuba's strategy to provide medical and technological support to other countries in the region, even though the island is only able to supply 30% of its basic medicine needs.
How do U.S. sanctions affect Cuba and Venezuela according to their governments?
The governments of Cuba and Venezuela blame U.S. sanctions for their respective economic and health crises. However, the arrival of donations and international aid from the United States and other countries challenges this narrative, as it demonstrates that there are ways to cooperate despite the embargo.
What other actions has Cuba taken towards Latin America in the field of health?
Cuba has offered vaccines, medicines, and technological capacity for their production to countries in Latin America. The Cuban Minister of Public Health, José Ángel Portal Miranda, expressed Cuba's readiness to put its experience and technical capacity at the service of the Pan American Health Organization and the region, even though the island faces significant deficiencies in its healthcare system.
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