Cuba’s public health system receives
global recognition
Dalia González Delgado
Roberto Morales, Cuban health minister, expressed
the country’s appreciation for the honor of chairing
the 67th World Health Assembly, taking place this week
in Geneva, Switzerland.
Speaking to Granma via telephone, Morales
said that “It is recognition of the results achieved
by Cuba’s public health system over the last 55
years of the Revolution.”
The presidency of the Assembly rotates annually
between the six regions of the World Health
Organization (OMS). This year is the Americas’ turn,
with Cuba chosen to lead the Assembly, a first for the
country.
According to Morales, some of the key issues being
discussed during the Assembly are the impact of
climate change on health, universal coverage, “of
which Cuba has been a prime example for many years,
due to the policies realized by our Revolution and
led by our Comandante en Jefe…I also believe that it
is a tribute to Fidel’s work,” emphasized Morales.
Anayansi Rodríguez , Cuba’s permanent representative
to United Nations offices in Geneva, spoke to
Granma commenting on the importance of the 67th
World Health Assembly in the history of the OMS, this
year, with a record number of participants – more
than 4,000 delegates from the organization’s 194
member countries.
The importance of including health objectives in the
post 2015 development agenda - which is currently
being developed in the UN General Assembly - has
been rigorously discussed, commented Rodríguez. She
also highlighted that another important issue, has
been the negotiation of a global coordination plan
addressing non-communicable disease prevention and
control. Access to quality, safe and affordable
medicines has also been discussed.
She also commented that Cuba is not only recognized
for the achievements of its health system, but also
for all its solidarity and international work in
this sphere. Morales stated that everyday more
requests arrive from countries seeking to increase
collaboration with Cuba.
As well as receiving recognition from OMS member
countries, Cuba has been acknowledged by the
organization’s directorate. “In particular from
Margaret Chan, director general, who on more than
one occasion over the last few days has sent cordial
messages in recognition of the Cuban health system,
and in particular, the historic leader of the Cuban
Revolution, Comandante en Jefe, Fidel Castro, who
she met personally a few years ago, and of our
President Raúl, with whom she has also held
meetings…she has sent them acknowledgements and
thanks, for the example Cuba has set in the sphere
of health, cooperation and concrete examples in the
struggle for the wellbeing of the people.”
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