Cubaminrex, New York, 12 February 2020.- Child welfare is a purpose inherent to the Cuban social project and its full compliance is implemented by social policies, programs and projects in the fields of health, education, social security and others. These services are widespread at national level and today they are free and universal for every child, with particular attention to ensuring access for the most vulnerable people. This was expressed by Ambassador Oscar León González, Chargé d´Affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations, during the first regular session of the UNICEF Executive Board and the adoption of the Country Programme for Cuba.
The Representative of the island stated that the Programme meets national needs and priorities, aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework; is coordinated with the National Economic and Social Development Plan until 2030 and is consistent with the priorities outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is a frame of reference for collaboration between UNICEF and Cuba.
He explained that his country applies a holistic approach to the development in early childhood, providing an integrated system of services for children under 6 years and their families. Its main goal is to promote the best beginning of life to all the child population and the maximum development of every child´s potential. He gave the examples of the “Educate your Child” and mother-child care programs.
Cuba shows several achievements in terms of child care and it guarantees the right to education for all children. It is among the 35 countries with the lowest infant mortality rate around the world and among the first countries in Latin America and the Caribbean with an infant mortality rate of 5.0 per 1,000 live births in 2019. The infant survival index, during the first five years of life, exceeds 99 percent since 20 years ago; and it was the first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis, a recognition awarded by the World Health Organization in 2015 and ratified last September. Cuba has achieved all this despite its condition of developing country and under almost 60 years of economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the Government of the United States.
León González took the opportunity to express Cuba´s confidence in the new Country Programme, which should significantly contribute to the development of achievements made regarding childhood and adolescence, which are the results of the socialist Revolution and the effort of the Cuban people.
(Cubaminrex-Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations)