Havana. A publication by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cuba highlights the devastating effects of the US energy blockade against the island. More than 32,880 pregnant women are exposed to additional risks, threats, and restrictions as a result of the US government's energy blockade against Cuba. Other important medical services for newborns, minors, diabetics, cancer treatments, surgical procedures, and emergencies are also limited due to the energy shortage. The energy deficit affects maternal and child health care, with restrictions such as difficulties in accessing obstetric ultrasound examinations for pregnant women to monitor the unborn child, as well as genetic ultrasound examinations to ensure timely diagnosis of malformations.
It also leads to limitations in the care of extremely severe maternal morbidities and critical newborns, delays in the childhood vaccination schedule, endangers the lives of children with special needs (home ventilation, mechanical aspiration, and air conditioning), and other problems, such as the very limited availability of medical transport to care for emergencies. These effects could have a significant impact on the more than 61,830 children under the age of one who require special attention during this first phase of life.
Furthermore, it limits attention to medical emergencies, cancer patients, and follow-up care to programs for chronic, non-communicable, and communicable diseases, leading to a direct increase in mortality in the country. The new arbitrary measures against the Cuban people will continue to increase the difficulties in obtaining medicines, supplies, reagents, disposable materials, medical instruments, and in purchasing equipment and spare parts, or in any way affect the overall vitality of hospitals, specialized rooms, operating rooms, and intensive care units.
While various countries have pledged humanitarian aid to the Cuban people, there is still no solution in sight to break the fuel and oil blockade. In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum, the ruling Morena party, and various civil solidarity groups have announced the continuation of humanitarian aid to Cuba. For the time being, no oil is coming from Mexico. Russia, meanwhile, has announced aid deliveries and a possible shipment of crude oil, and there is even talk of an oil tanker being escorted by warships. The governments of China and Spain have also announced aid for Cuba.
Sources: Granma/Prensa Latina
(ZeitungderArbeit)