British academic Helen Yaffe, from the University of Glasgow, and Cuban doctor Valia Rodríguez, from the University of Aston, presented the documentary "Cuba and the Covid-19: Public Health, Science and Solidarity" yesterday. The material was premiered as part of the festival of social science of the Economic and Social Research Council of UKRI, a British organization dedicated to research and innovation.
The audiovisual recounts how Cuba responded decisively to the pandemic, mobilizing its extensive public health system and the biotechnology sector to stop the spread of the virus and reduce deaths from COVID-19, while creating synergies between research centers that made it possible to develop vaccine candidates and begin clinical trials for them. Additionally, Cuba sent medical brigades to other countries to collaborate in the fight against the pandemic.
In the debate following the documentary - which took place virtually and was attended by Internet users from the United States, Canada, Cuba, the United Kingdom, Italy and Israel, among others - it was highlighted how these positive results on the island are being achieved despite the tightening of the US blockade against Cuba, which hinders the country's possibilities of accessing technology, medicines and health material to fight the disease more effectively.
The documentary is also part of the official selection for the Glasgow Film Festival, which is being held in that Scottish city from 10 to 15 November.
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