New York, June 23, 2026. – At the General debate of the United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, reaffirmed his country’s commitment to the protection of health as a core human right and to the aim of eradicating SIDA as a threat for public health.
In his speech, the Cuban diplomat emphasized that more than four decades into the epidemic, universal access to quality health services remains an unmet goal for millions of people due to inequalities, economic crises, the conflicts and unilateral coercive measures that impede international efforts in this area.
The Ambassador stressed that the Cuban response to HIV/AIDS is underpinned by a universal, free and accessible national health system based on primary care, prevention, early diagnosis, timely treatment and active community participation. Thanks to this comprehensive approach, Cuba maintains internationally recognized results, including the status of first country in the world validated by the World Health Organization for having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis, an achievement that has been revalidated and sustained over the past few years.
However, Soberón denounced that these advances are achieved in a context marked by the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba. He explained that financial constraints make it difficult to purchase antiretroviral drugs, diagnostic tests, and other essential supplies for the care of people living with HIV.
He also warned about the aggravation of these conditions as a result of the energy siege and other secondary coercive measures, whose impact directly affects the work of the national health system and the country’s ability to provide treatment, medical equipment and supplies intended for the care of chronic diseases and other health conditions.
Cuba’s Permanent Representative Ernesto Soberón concluded by reaffirming the commitment of his country to the Political Declaration on HIV and to a global response based on equity, solidarity, international cooperation and respect for the right to development and health of all peoples, while reiterating that unilateral coercive measures are incompatible with efforts to ensure health for all.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations.