Mr. President:
The right to health is enshrined in the Cuban Constitution and is a very high priority in our country, where human welfare is prioritized.
For more than 6 decades, we have been building a health system based on prevention, equity and solidarity.
The Cuban model has shown that health, instead of being a lucrative business, can be public, free, of quality and in solidarity.
We consider international cooperation and solidarity to be fundamental components in the efforts to make the right to health effective in all countries.
Since 1963, more than 605,000 Cuban health collaborators have provided services in 165 countries. Currently, more than 24,000 professionals provide support in 56 nations.
We denounce the dishonest campaign of the U.S. government to discredit Cuban medical cooperation, exert pressure on recipient governments and deprive millions of people of essential health services. These petty actions are nothing more than an extension of the aggression and hostility against Cuba.
We will continue to contribute to the training of young health professionals from other countries by granting scholarships and developing cooperation projects. We are proud that more than 43 thousand health professionals from 120 nations have been trained in Cuba and contribute to medical care in their respective countries.
Neither the discrediting campaigns nor the devastating effects of the intensified economic, commercial and financial blockade will be able to prevent Cuba from continuing to save lives and share its scarce resources with other nations of the world in need.
In the face of hatred and lies, we will respond with more solidarity and cooperation.
Thank you