Suva, August 20th. The Third Secretary of the Cuban Embassy in Fiji, Osmany Cantillo Trejo held a working meeting with Sumeet Tappoo, Director of the Sai Prema Fiji Foundation and President of its International Advisory Council, in order to exchange on the existing potentialities for the development of joint programs on health and biotechnology between institutions in Cuba and Fiji.
Mr. Tappoo made a presentation of the work he develops and the priority interests of the Organization he directs in the field of medical care, mainly the treatment of children with congenital heart diseases, people with diabetes mellitus and other care interventions. He recognized the contribution of Cuba in the training of young Fijians as health professionals and praised the prestigious health system and the results of the scientific institutions of the Antillean nation.
For his part, the Cuban diplomat highlighted the existing potential to develop joint actions to address diabetes in this Pacific Island, a condition that, according to some estimates, affects a third of the population. He added that the Cuban biotech product Heberprot-P has shown high efficacy in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, considerably reducing the risk of amputations. The official ratified the will to carry out actions in other areas of specialized care.
At the meeting, in which Mr. Remal Tappoo, Secretary of the Sai Prema Foundation, also took part, the participants exchanged on the challenge that the COVID19 pandemic represents for the island States, both due to its implications in terms of health and negative socioeconomic impact that it generates.
Embassy of Cuba in Fiji