Vol. 81/No. 36 October 2, 2017
As Raúl Castro said, ‘In Cuba, no one is left behind’
The Granma was the yacht that carried Fidel and Raúl Castro, Che Guevara and other Cuban revolutionaries from Mexico to Cuba to begin the revolutionary war against the U.S.-backed Fulgencio Batista dictatorship in 1956.
As the revolutionaries approached Cuba, ex-navy lieutenant Roberto Roque fell overboard. “The Granma’s search lights were turned on for the first time, when it was more dangerous than ever,” Cuban revolutionary Faustino Pérez wrote in his account published in the book Diary of the Cuban Revolution. “Never willing to give up, Fidel ordered one more search.”
“We miraculously rescued him,” Pérez said. “His strength, his ability, his level headedness, as well as Fidel’s faith and the efforts of his comrades had saved his life.”
The same attitude of solidarity and discipline characterize Cuba’s approach in preparing for Hurricane Irma.
The meeting of 125 capped the “Days of Action against the Blockade,” organized by the International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity.
“Cuba is sharing our doctors with the Caribbean,” said Leima Martínez, a representative of the North American division of the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the Peoples, describing how, in spite of extensive hurricane damage in Cuba, the revolution has sent medical personnel to help throughout the hard-hit region.
“I’ve been asked why Cuba sends doctors to other countries. Are we exploiting them?” Martínez said. “No, we share what we have, not what’s left over. That solidarity that we share is part of our culture.”
“We need you to come to Cuba, to share your experiences and struggles,” Martínez said, adding the Cuban people look forward to solidarity from people in the U.S. Over 70 people from the United States will be joining the “In the Footsteps of Che” brigade to Cuba, Oct. 1-15, and will learn firsthand how Cuba’s revolutionary government and people organize to rebuild after Irma.
Yoandrís Ruiz, first secretary of the Union of Young Communists of Camagüey, was also part of the Cuban delegation.
Dr. Jesús de los Santo Renó Céspedes, head of pediatrics at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Havana, joined a panel of speakers to discuss Cuba’s health care system.
He reported on the effect of Washington’s economic war against the Cuban Revolution, including how Washington tries to make it difficult for the Cuban government to provide health care.
Cuba’s pharmaceutical industry strives to advance the treatment of cancer, especially in children, Renó said. “There was a drug that we had a lot of success with that was available in Mexico, but for $500 a tablet,” he said. “In India, it was available for $200. But the U.S. bought this company. We constantly face the need to find providers, or the medical raw materials to make medicines, because of Washington’s blockade.”
Stephen Frum presented greetings from National Nurses United. Also speaking were three graduates from the Latin American School of Medicine, a Cuban school that provides free medical education to young people from Latin America, the U.S. and around the world; as well as Dr. Margaret Flowers, co-director of Popular Resistance.
The September 11-16 activities included campus meetings at American University, Howard University, Georgetown University School of Medicine and the University of Maryland, as well as lobbying against the embargo.
Related articles:
After storm, Cuban people and their gov’t rebuild
Capitalism turns Harvey, Irma into social disasters
Brigade will bring solidarity, aid to Cuba after storm
Washington protest demands US hands off Venezuela, Cuba
US moves against Cuba ‘crash against our revolutionary spirit’
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