Cuba denounces the impact of the US blockade on its health system

United Nations, Dec. 12- Cuba denounced the negative impact of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States almost 60 years ago on the island's health programs.

Alternate Permanent Representative of Cuba to the United Nations, Ana Silvia Rodriguez, spoke regarding the issues at the General Assembly meeting under the theme 'Global Health and Foreign Policy.'

In my country, public health is a right of all people, ratified in Article 72 of the Constitution, and it is the responsibility of the State to guarantee the access, gratuity and quality of care services, as well as their protection and recovery, she stressed.

The ambassador took the opportunity to denounce the slanderous campaign launched by the United States government against Cuban international medical collaboration.

Washington attacks bilateral and intergovernmental health cooperation programs, all legitimately established between Cuba and authorities from dozens of countries, which have been consistent with the United Nations guidelines for South-South cooperation, she stressed.

These programs, she added, also respond to the health requirements that these governments have defined sovereignly.

Rodriguez explained that the Trump administration is attempting to restore the so-called 'Cuban Medical Professional Parole (CMPP) Program,' terminated on January 12, 2017.

This mechanism actively seeks to incite Cuban medical personnel to abandon their posts, and includes payment of tickets and legal services, provision of US visas and travel documents to Cuban personnel in third countries, with the purpose of sabotaging the bilateral agreements signed with third nations, she added.

The Cuban representative stressed that, in a world driven by selfish interests, in which capitalism considers health care a commodity and not a right, it is impossible to achieve Goal 3 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

That goal is to 'Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages' through universal health coverage. (Prensa Latina)