New York, November 27, 2018. The Director of International Relations of the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba (MINSAP, Spanish abbreviation), Dr. Néstor Marimón, attended as a panelist, the event organized by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on the role of South-South Cooperation in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals for children. The event took place within the framework of the Global South-South Development Expo (GSSD Expo) which is held at the United Nations between November 28 and 30.
The Cuban health official was invited to share the achievements shown by the Cuban Health System in the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis and the south-south cooperation initiatives carried out in this regard. These achievements were recognized during the event by representatives of UNICEF and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation present there.
Dr. Marimón highlighted that Cuba was the first country in the world to receive the PAHO/WHO validation for having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis and noted that the country has continued to comply with the impact indicators established, receiving the re-certification in 2017. Similarly, with regard to mother-infant care, he stressed that Cuba has a mortality rate of 4.0 per 1,000 live births, the lowest in its history.
Dr. Marimón stressed the importance of the active participation of all state and social sectors to attain these significant achievements, while ratifying the full willingness of Cuba to continue sharing and exchanging its results and experiences with the southern countries on the sensitive issue of guarantying infant health.
Cuba advocates the principle of sharing its modest resources with other nations in need through south-south cooperation and solidarity. Proof of this are the 49,000 Cuban collaborators who provide medical care in 63 countries; the more than 1.5 billion patients treated worldwide; the more than 6 million lives saved; the 2,900,000 babies born thanks to Cuban doctors; the more than 10 million surgeries performed; and the almost 3 million people who have regained their eyesight thanks to the "Operation Miracle" program developed jointly with the ALBA countries.
The Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) is also located in the Caribbean country. Health professionals from several countries have graduated from this school which also provides broad collaboration for the teaching of medicine in a large group of nations.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations