The Bahamas Sends Donation of Medicines to Cuba for the Treatment of Children with Cancer
Nassau, August 7, 2026. The Government of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas announced this Friday the dispatch of the first of three planned shipments comprising a donation of medicines intended for the treatment of pediatric cancer in Cuba. The initiative will help support the care of children suffering from this serious disease and represents a significant gesture of solidarity and cooperation between the two nations, while strengthening the bonds of mutual support in the field of healthcare.
The announcement was made during a press conference held at Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau, led by the Hon. Michael Darville, Minister of Health of The Bahamas, with the participation of the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Juan Carlos Marcof Sánchez, and the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusa Alí, who is travelling to Havana today to deliver the first shipment.
During his remarks, Minister Darville highlighted the commitment of the Bahamian Government to humanitarian cooperation and stated that this contribution reflects the profound sense of solidarity of the people and Government of The Bahamas with Cuba, especially with the children who require specialized oncology treatment. He also underscored Cuba’s expressions of solidarity with The Bahamas in previous difficult times, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For his part, Ambassador Juan Carlos Marcof Sánchez expressed his gratitude for the noble gesture of the Bahamian people and Government, emphasizing that the donation comes at a particularly challenging time for Cuba, marked by the tightening of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States and the implementation of new sanctions affecting access to medicines and essential supplies for the country’s healthcare system.
Marcof highlighted the negative impact that the aggressive and hostile policy of the United States toward Cuba is having on the healthcare sector, noting that the survival rate of children with cancer has declined from 85% to 65%, that the infant mortality rate has doubled, and that 100,000 patients, including 12,000 children, are currently awaiting surgery.
The Cuban diplomat stated that this act of cooperation goes beyond the material value of the medicines, as it represents a concrete expression of friendship, compassion and commitment to the lives of Cuban children battling cancer. He also affirmed that the initiative marks a new milestone in the history of solidarity and friendship that has united the peoples of Cuba and The Bahamas for decades.
The delivery announced this Friday constitutes the first of three planned by the Bahamian Government as part of a coordinated effort to contribute to the treatment of pediatric oncology patients in Cuba and to reaffirm the historic bonds of cooperation and fraternity between the two Caribbean nations.