New York, 15 December 2020. The extraterritorial application of the United States blockade and the current hostile policy of Washington towards Cuba affect third countries. Thus, the U.S. government, with its decision of attacking Cuban medical cooperation, threatens the enjoyment of the right to health of millions of human beings, who have benefited from the work of Cuban doctors in different parts of the world.
From April 2019 to March 2020, healthcare for 67 million people was seriously harmed by the breach of bilateral agreements signed between Cuba and several countries of the Americas. The international community has recognized on several occasions the professionalism and altruism of more than 400, 000 Cuban health workers who have been deployed in 164 nations for 60 years.
The United States actions have reached the point of demanding several nations to disregard and renounce Cuban medical cooperation in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nevertheless, while the current U.S. administration insists on criticizing, accusing and telling outright lies against the island, over fifty Cuban medical brigades have been sent to several countries and territories affected by the coronavirus to contribute to the fight against this pandemic, in almost all continents: Europe (Italy and Andorra), Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa.
Cuba is convinced that these times demand cooperation and solidarity, so it also shares the results of scientific research with other countries as in the case of the Recombinant Interferon Alfa-2B, which has proven to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations