Cubans residing in the United Kingdom appeal today to the generosity of people to help the Caribbean island manufacture the mechanical ventilators, which are forbidden to purchase due to the U.S. blockade.
According to the organization, the objective of the ´crowdfunding´ campaign is to raise funds to purchase components that allow Cuban institutions to manufacture these kinds of equipment from designs published online by several universities.
Cuba cannot purchase new ventilators, and it is very difficult to repair the broken ones because the companies that previously supplied them were acquired by an American company, details the call made by the non-profit organization Cubanos en UK.
In this regard, the text recalls that the blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba for more than 60 years prohibits any type of trade with the West Indian country, including medical supplies needed to help patients affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It further notes that the money raised will be used to support the construction of the E-Event ventilator, the design of which was made available to the general public by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In this way, through collaboration, solidarity and free designs, we will defeat the U.S. blockade of Cuba and aid sick people, the campaign stresses, which hopes to raise at least 25,000 sterling pounds (about 31,000 dollars).
Donations can be made through the online page https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/ventilators-for-covid#start, which until Monday showed a collection of more than eight thousand dollars.
Apart from their cash contributions, several donors left messages of solidarity with the Caribbean island and against the US blockade, as is the case of Richard Roque, who affirmed that Cuba is an inspiration for the world, and described the measures taken by Washington as cruel and inhumane.
Sonia Rowbury, for her part, identified herself as an admirer of the longstanding socialist people and government of Cuba, and wishes Cubanos en UK, founded in 2013, to raise the figure that this campaign set out to accomplish.
Source Prensa Latina / Translation Embassy of Cuba in United Kingdom