Cuba will donate 2,000 yellow fever vaccines to Colombia, in response to a request made by the Colombian Ministry of Health on April 25th.
The delivery aims to support the actions taken by Colombia to address the health emergency caused by this disease, as reported by Caracol Radio.
According to the details provided by Cuba's ambassador to Colombia, Javier Caamaño, the donated vaccines are produced by the Institute of Technology and Immunobiologicals of Brazil.
In a letter addressed to the Colombian Minister of Health, Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo, the Cuban embassy requested guidance on the procedures for sending the donation.
The Colombian chancellor, Laura Sarabia, expressed her gratitude to the Cuban government through her social media.
On his X account (formerly Twitter), Sarabia wrote: "We thank Cuba for its generous and supportive donation of more than two thousand doses of the yellow fever vaccine. We continue to work for the well-being of the country."
Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can cause fever, jaundice, and bleeding, with high mortality rates in severe cases. Although an effective vaccine exists, access to sufficient doses poses a challenge in several Latin American regions, particularly in outbreak contexts or in rural and jungle areas.
Despite the fact that the gesture has been celebrated by Colombian authorities, Cuba faces a chronic shortage of essential medications, hospital supplies, and essential pediatric vaccines, including BCG, pentavalent, and polio.
Reports about mothers having to wait weeks to vaccinate their children, or the lack of antibiotics and analgesics in hospitals, have become common. Even health professionals have expressed their helplessness in treating patients due to the lack of supplies.
Furthermore, since January 2022, the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba itself regulated the use of the yellow fever vaccine exclusively for international travelers, due to the limited availability of the vaccine in the country. This excluded most citizens from the national vaccination scheme, despite the potential risk in areas of eastern Cuba where the vector mosquito is present.
Despite this context, Cuba has maintained its strategy of international projection through medical donations. These actions, while seen as gestures of solidarity, have been criticized as part of a propaganda campaign aimed at projecting an image of medical prowess, at the expense of internal shortages.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cuba's Donation of Vaccines to Colombia and the Health Situation in Cuba
How many vaccines did Cuba donate to Colombia and for what disease?
Cuba donated 2,000 yellow fever vaccines to Colombia in response to a request from the Colombian Ministry of Health. The donation aims to support Colombia's efforts in addressing the health emergency caused by this mosquito-borne viral disease.
What challenges does Cuba face in its healthcare system despite international donations?
Cuba is facing a severe shortage of basic medications and essential pediatric vaccines, such as BCG, pentavalent, and polio vaccines. The country is also suffering from a lack of hospital supplies, deteriorating infrastructure, and a shortage of specialized personnel, leading to constant complaints from patients and healthcare professionals.
Why is Cuba's medical donation strategy criticized?
The medical donation strategy of Cuba is criticized because, although it is presented as a gesture of solidarity, it is perceived as a propaganda campaign aimed at projecting Cuba as a medical power, despite the internal shortages affecting its population.
What impact does the health crisis in Cuba have on its vaccination capacity?
The health crisis in Cuba has prompted the government to restrict the use of the yellow fever vaccine to international travelers only, leaving the majority of citizens outside the national vaccination program, despite the potential risk in some areas of the country.
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