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UN Elects Cuba to Chair World Health Assembly Even as Cubans Lack Aspirin, Basic Health

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The UN today elected Cuban Health Minister Roberto Tomas Morales Ojeda to chair its 2014 World Health Assembly.

Cuban media hails decision; UN Watch condemns "UN handing propaganda victory to a dictatorship"

unwatch.org

GENEVA, May 19 – The Geneva-based human rights group UN Watch criticized the UN's election today of Cuba to chair the 67th World Health Assembly, with executive director Hillel Neuer saying the decision "wrongly hands a coveted propaganda victory to a dictatorship that imprisons journalists and brutalizes human rights defenders," and that it "enables Cuba to further perpetuate myths about a health system that is in fact crumbling, with desperate citizens reduced to asking tourists to bring them Aspirin and other basic medicines."

The consensus election today by 194 WHO member states chose the sole candidate, Cuban Health Minister Roberto Tomas Morales Ojeda.

"Why is the UN placing the world's health in the hands of a government that practices medical Apartheid, with privileged clinics for medical tourists, while its own impoverished citizens are denied Aspirin and other basic medicines, with public hospitals that deny their patients running water or working toilets?" asked Neuer.

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paho.org

Geneva, 19 May 2014 (PAHO/WHO) – Minister of Public Health Roberto Morales Ojeda of Cuba was designated today as President of the 67th World Health Assembly, during the Assembly’s opening session.

The presidency of the World Health Assembly rotates annually among the six regions of the World Health Organization (WHO). This year, it corresponded to the Region of the Americas. Morales Ojeda was proposed as a candidate and was accepted by WHO Member States during the opening plenary. It is the first time Cuba has occupied the position.

Morales Ojeda, who has served as health minister since 2010, said his designation reflects a “recognition of the results achieved by the national health system [of Cuba], which is characterized by being unified, free, accessible, with universal coverage.”

“It is a great challenge to be able to address the broad agenda proposed for this 67th World Health Assembly, seeking better solutions and alternatives for the health of our peoples. But I am convinced, based on the quality of the discussions and the soundness of the documents that will be approved, that we can contribute to fulfilling the promise of guaranteeing health for all,” he said.

The World Health Assembly is WHO’s supreme decision-making body. Its main functions are to determine the WHO’s policies, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the Organization’s budget.

Morales Ojeda is a physician with a masters degree in public health. Before becoming health minister, he served as vice-minister of health, provincial director of health, and municipal director of health in his native Cuba.

Speech by Roberto Morales Ojeda, President of the 67th World Health Assembly:

Dear Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization, distinguished Ministers, Ambassadors, Regional Directors, Assistant Director-Generals, Delegates, ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of my government, I convey the deepest gratitude to the Member States here present, to the Pan American Health Organization and to all of those who contributed to confer Cuba the high honor of being selected to conduct the sessions of the 67th World Health Assembly. We accepted it as a recognition of the results achieved by the national health system, which is characterized for being unique, free, accessible, with universal coverage, based on Primary Health Care and it stands out for its broad community and intersectorial participation as well as for its profound internationalist conception.

Examples of these results are the child mortality rate achieved in 2013 of 4.2 per 1000 live births, indicator that has been maintained for more than five consecutive years under 5, as well as Cuba's contribution to health in more than 120 countries of the world, with the presence of 135 000 collaborators since 1960 and currently over 50 000 in 65 countries.

Excellencies:

The World Health Organization, as leading authority in the health sector, has identified the need to seek new strategies which allow to face the increasingly complex and growing health problems of the peoples in the 21st century, and due to that, it has been proposed a comprehensive reform that contributes to its own improvement and to guide its work in the coming years, while reinforcing its intergovernmental nature.

Achieving a truly sustainable development is a common wish, and it has been widely acknowledged that people’s health is both, a means to achieve it and at the same time an end.

In order to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals related to health, we must face the problems derived from multiple crises and from the existence of major inequalities.

Added to this, is the use of massive resources to deploy modern wars of conquest that cause thousands of deaths, while tens of millions of human beings die in silence, victims of poverty and of preventable and curable diseases. Just to quote an example, is enough to say that a supersonic fighter aircraft is equal to the cost of implementing 40 000 doctor's offices.

It is necessary to create closer links between the economic, social and environmental policies, as pillars of the sustainable development. In this regard, the Second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), that Cuba was honored to host and chair on January, had as main theme "the fight against poverty, hunger and inequality."

We agreed at that moment that, in order to achieve fairer societies in our region, a better distribution of wealth and incomes, quality education and health services for all, the eradication of illiteracy, the establishment of true food security, among other vital issues for the human life are essential.

Cuba will also continue defending from this important group, actions of regional political cooperation and agreements to help improve the quality of health care in our countries.

The agenda of this Assembly includes pressing global health issues, and the general debate will refer to the relationship between climate change and health, where we will share the most successful experiences in the mitigation and adaptation to the climate change impacts on the health of the population.

I allow myself to indicate the words of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz, when in the Rio Summit in 1992, he stated and I quote:

An important biological species is endangered due to the accelerated and progressive destruction of its natural living conditions: man. We are becoming aware of this problem only now when it is almost too late to tackle it. It is worthwhile indicating that the main responsibility for the brutal destruction of the environment lies with the consumer societies. (…) A better distribution of wealth and of the technologies available in the world could spare humanity such devastation. Less luxury and waste in a few countries could bring about a reduction of poverty and hunger in a large part of the planet. (…) Let the ecologic debt be paid and not the foreign debt. Let hunger disappear and not man. End of the quote, which I consider it retains its full validity.

Another aspect of great importance for health is to follow-up on the Political Declaration of the General Assembly of the United Nations, on the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases, which represent a threat to the wellbeing of our peoples due to its growing burden of disease, disability and death.

Mother and child health, especially maternal mortality continues to be an unresolved issue, so this gathering should deeply analyze all its dimensions, as well as the Global Action Plan for Neonatal Health and the recommendations of the UN Commission on Life-saving Commodities for Women and Children.

The multisectorial action for a healthy aging, based on the life cycle, will be the subject of attention of this Assembly, as a major challenge to health systems and government agendas.

Excellencies, distinguished colleagues:

It is a great challenge to be able to cover the agenda proposed for the 67th World Health Assembly, in search of better solutions and alternatives for the health of our peoples, but I am convinced that from the quality of the debates and the strength of the documents that be approved, we will contribute to fulfil the commitment of ensuring health for all.

Thank you very much.

(CLICK HERE - ORIGINAL PAHO / WHO PRESS RELEASE)

I was not surprised to read the assumption of the World Health Assembly,one year ago, in the voice of its executive director Hillel Neuer saying the decision "wrongly hands ,....etc.

We already know that many people have made of Cuba a target.It's old news...

I do wonder if Hillel Neur has done the journey  all around Cuba, as I did as the Editor of the Spanish Edition of the British Medical Journal, when I decided that the concept of Peer Review of translations should of been done in Cuba.

Why? Because they do have the maximum academic level in the Health area.Because they were prepared to work from dusk to dawn.Because they are devoted .Because they can not be bought as so many  Latin American colleagues by Pharma Corporations TO CHANGE TRANSLATIONS in favor of their products. Yes...as it is happenning NOW!!!

  I remember discussing this issue with the former Editor of Science and  with the editor of The Lancet In Prague ,years ago,in 1998,in our Meeting of Scientific Publications and trying to put the Peer Review of translations as a must for main Journals.

Then ,in Cuba that was possible. BMJ had 72 people dedicated to peer review in their areas.They did it for more than a decade.

This is an example for people that worry about aspirins availability.

As a New Zealand citizen  I can say that it is very difficult to get a prescription for aspirin in the country.marketing in favor of paracetamol is worldwide... finding aspirin is easier in Cuba...not worldwide as it used to be. What has  happened ?

(Are there "special news" from molecular biology that we don't know and aspirin will go under a Cinderella's transformation ?)

WHO should know.Do they ?

Coming back to the Caiman, as we call Cuba .My last visit to Cuba was six months ago.And I do use aspirin. And,guess? I GOT IT... A cuban friend gave it to me .Just some that  were extra of personal prescriptions for Cuban citizens.

Yes, there are tourist pharmacies...or do you with a developed country personal budget, want to visit a (let's leave politics aside),lets say a developing country, where medication is basically free ,or not more than minimal cost,and abuse them getting your beloved aspirins for two cents...when paying...how much...for services.  Does it sound fair?.....

Why,an Organization allows to make EASY POLITICS based only in having the microphone? Because people has not been in Cuba...and talking is free for many...like aspirins in Cuba...

Because the Media never talks reality about Cuba.? Then some people feel free to talk without basis...in science...please...

Am I taking this personally? Yes,I am. As the truth is. Don't we need to say touching our hearts and being proud of : "The truth, the truth,and nothing but the truth, so help me God".Then,lets do it,in all areas...

Is the issue to be discussed in this Forum the status of aspirins in Cuba? If the Toilets flush in all the  Cuban Health Institutions?

May I name some places where, as British Medical Journal in Latin America  in charge of C M Education I have seen in Central America with real major problems ? And they are not in the Media or stopping countries to develop? No I won't .But I'll tell a short,nice story out of Cuba that can help to understand.

This is beautiful,so genuine,so naive.I will reserve the name of the country.Let me tell you, dear Director:

Central America,some place inside. I was close to the Minister, then the people in that main Regional Hospital felt that they needed to show me everything...and we trying to help New Tecnologies in Health.

 I was taken to a "Special Place" where a disconnected computer was surrounded by flowers in a beautiful table. They promised:" Nobody is allowed to touch it",we are keeping the computer safe..." They were proud.I did smile.

What would of the Media say if this was a cuban episode?..

At that time,same,exact time, INFOMED in Cuba was making use of European donations of computers to put them in Medical centers,hospitals, schools of Medicine...as much as they could...and they CAN.(When there is a will,there is a way)

No, dear Director, nobody told me I WAS THERE .The Head of Infomed was also there, with the amount of volunteers downloading containers. And I saw the programmes that were going directly to Health areas...all of them

And I have seen that working from Pinar del Rio To Santiago de Cuba, near Guantanamo the extremes of the nation.

Lack of aspirins...Why try such an easy argument to pretend to put down Cuban Health System ?

Please GO TO CUBA...and if possible get sick... please,do your best...then you'll see a service working.

Go and visit somebody that you know or don't know.They will allow you to enter  an then talk...not before.Please let's respect the Media and the mind of the readers.

Just for being clear.Yes,I have seen as a patient ,and as a professional observer ,things to be improved....Yes...We are talking Caribbean area under fifty years of embargo! What sort of perfection are we looking for ?.The System is the Latin American best...by FAR!!!!And I'll say that many highly deloped countries would love to have something alike... 

Now, dear director Hillel Neur, given the mention of  problems with toilets... with all due respect...have you try to fix your toilet at home? It becomes very  interesting when there is an embargo in your country...and finding tools and all the little details that plumbing needs to work are not there...at al!!!!???? Not easy...and you mentioned it as a Health System Issue?... Was that a joke?  Sorry... perhaps,and I got lost...

 What Cuba has done and is doing for Health is HUGE!!!! The whole world knows it.Does WHO know it? Are we playing games?

Let me tell you a tiny ,personal example,please : a few months ago I was In St Lucia,Caribbean with a tropical fever. I saw three different doctors and two nurses ALL EDUCATED IN CUBA!!! St Lucia's Public Health. How much did they pay? Nothing. And I already have a feeling for medical atention. They were good,very good.All natives of St Lucia.

Lack of aspirins...how sad...how embarrasing as an argumment ,my dear Director. Do you have really SOMETHING TO SAY?

I do believe that the Pope,the American and the Cuban Presidents have shown us that there are more than a a few things to be said.And they have agreed!!!!How wonderful!!!!

An idea...perhaps you can do a good investment, dear Director.

Why not to develop an aspirin production place in Cuba. Your contribution will possibly be welcome,if they don't have already enough aspirins.

WHO kows ,but...sorry.... I am not sure  ,does WHO  want to know?.

howdy folks