Amid harsh economic challenges in Cuba, The Bahamas government has donated $500,000 worth of critical chemotherapy medication to help children receiving care at the National Institute of Oncology and Radiology in Havana.
The announcement was made during a press conference at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) on Friday, where Minister of Health Dr. Michael Darville said that the first of a slew of shipments was set to be delivered on Friday by Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jerusa Ali.
“Ms. Ali will be heading into Cuba to carry the medicines directly to the hospital that will utilize these chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of children who are in dire need of assistance,” Darville said.
“We intend to do it in a variety of tranches.
“This is the first batch of eight very important chemotherapy drugs that is very specific in the care of children who suffer from forms of cancer, and I am so pleased that finally under the direction of the Cabinet of The Bahamas, following the trend throughout CARICOM, to deliver these humanitarian medications to the people of Cuba.”
Cuban Ambassador Juan Carlos Marcos Sanchez attributed much of Cuba’s healthcare troubles to increasing pressure caused by US sanctions and shared that 100,000 Cubans are currently waiting for surgery.
“Among them, 12,000 are children, and this is because of the sanctions, the strengthening of the blockade from the US government to Cuba that has provoked, in the energy sector specifically, big problems to our country,” Sanchez said.
“In the last week, we have had three complete blackouts in the whole island because of this situation and without electricity you cannot operate.”
This year, the US has imposed significant sanctions on key sectors of the Cuban economy, citing concerns over matters of national security including Cuba’s relationships with nations such as Russia and Iran.
In January, America restricted Cuba’s access to crude oil and petroleum products.
Since then, unilateral sanctions have expanded, with the latest measures targeting energy, transport, irrigation and other basic services, leading to growing food insecurity issues, electricity blackouts, medical treatment shortages.
The increased economic and political pressure doled out by the Trump administration has triggered harsh consequences for Cubans, including energy blackouts.
The US’ actions have prompted outrage and concern from human rights groups, who have called for all “threats and hostile acts” to come to an end.
Original source: bs