Cuba vs Covid19

45 days

114 contributors

20'155 CHF collected

Thanks to you, we can move on to the next phase of this project: acquiring all the equipment and bringing it to Cuba!

During the campaign, we have not been idle: the first reagents ordered are already in Cuba, ready to be used by the IPK laboratories. Delivery times were faster than we had been told. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the delivery of the rest of the material will also arrive very quickly.

In Cuba, the health situation is in the best-case scenario: the curve is flattening!

For COVID-19, 1,743 samples were studied, resulting in 8 positive samples. The country accumulated 89,031 samples completed and 1,908 positives (2.1%). At the close of May 20, 2020, 8 new cases were confirmed, for a total of 1,908 in the country. There are 80 deaths in the country.

The monitoring and control of the epidemic is producing the expected results, which is a great relief! But Cuba must remain vigilant: cases of COVID-19 are increasing rapidly among its neighbors.

In addition to focusing efforts on the well-being of patients, the protection of vulnerable people, and economic solutions to be found in the face of the slowdown, the Island must also face a reinforcement of American sanctions, as well as accusations of terrorism and slavery; this is putting a strain on the Cuban authorities, its health system, and above all the entire Cuban population.

The colossal effort to contain the new coronavirus has left the island with very few reserves, compounded by difficulties in obtaining supplies of oil, raw materials, and commodities (rice, meat, milk, etc.). The situation of the Cubans will not be easy in the coming months.

Therefore, your solidarity is a breath of fresh air for Cuba and its people!

Again T H A N K Y O U for all your contributions, for your sharing, for your encouragements...

We will continue to support Cuba, so that their health workers can continue to guarantee the right to health for all, wherever it is needed!

For mediCuba-Suisse and mediCuba-Europa

Luisa

P.S. : We will continue to keep you informed of the project's progress, but if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Dears Boosters,

Our campaign continues and has even reached 56% of the objective! That’s huge! Your response, from friends, family, those who are always there to support us, but also from many anonymous people, is incredible.

In Cuba, the situation is becoming more complicated, not only because of the increase in COVID-19 cases, but mainly because of the slowdown in activities and the closing of borders. Getting food supplies becomes a real obstacle course: there are endless queues to buy bread, find rice or fruit and vegetables; meat and dairy products are in short supply, not to mention the products that Cuba has to import; and all this before the curfew forces Cubans to lock themselves up in their homes.

On the virus side, the numbers continue to grow, but fortunately the curve is flattening! Cuba is in the best-case scenario.

So this is good news, and it is possible thanks to the efforts of all Cubans: health professionals who are on the front lines of this epidemic, but also medical students who are going door-to-door to provide information on prevention measures and to detect possible cases of COVID-19. Thanks to the maintenance staff, grocery store and market employees, pharmacists, artists... everyone has been involved in getting through this difficult period in the best possible way.

The Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK), as the national reference laboratory for viral infections, works tirelessly. Since the first case and until 30 April 2020, its various laboratories have processed 23,920 samples for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Nearly 150 professionals, including doctors specializing in microbiology, microbiology residents, graduates in microbiology and biochemistry, health technologists and laboratory technicians, take turns in groups to carry out the tests 24 hours a day. In addition to these teams, residents, graduates and physicians provide support for sample collection, rapid tests, databases and other tasks necessary to monitor the epidemic.

The IPK also participated in the training of all medical brigade personnel who travelled to support other countries. These staff have been trained in biosafety issues, clinical patient management and laboratory diagnosis. Several IPK professionals are currently serving as experts and helping in other (Nicaragua, Venezuela, among others). As a reminder, Cuba sent 25 medical teams to help stop the spread of COVID-19 in 23 countries.

As far as our urgent aid project is concerned, the first order for reagents (of 90'000 euros) has been placed and accepted by the supplier! The delivery time remains important (about 4 weeks), but in any case, these reagents will be for Cuba! The rest of the material is being ordered, which is taking time because of the strong worldwide demand, but also because of the detours that Cuba must make to circumvent the US sanctions. It's complicated, but we'll get there!

The solidarity of the associations of the mediCuba-Europa network is also incredible. A little over 200'000 euros have been collected in one month! It's HUGE!!!

But as this money must also be used to buy 20 respirators that Cuba is unable to obtain (editor's note: Cuba's usual Swiss suppliers for this equipment recently refused the order made by the Ministry of Health because of the American sanctions), the objective of our campaign remains essential to cover the cost of all the material necessary to combat COVID-19!

We still have 15 days to complete this goal... the final stretch and we still need your help! Our campaign needs to reach more people, and this is only possible by sharing the link to your family, friends, colleagues, on your social networks. We are counting on you!

Thank you again for your solidarity!

Dear boosters,

Thanks to you we are moving forward in this adventure to support Cuba and its people. We're still a little off the mark, but we're closer than 10 days ago, and that's thanks to you !!!

A lot has happened in 10 days of campaigning.

First of all, the virus continues to spread on the island: the number of confirmed cases is over 800 and there are unfortunately 24 deaths. The medical profession is fighting with all its might to contain the epidemic. The Cuban strategy is isolating all persons who have had contact with a proven case; this explains the high number of hospitalization cases (2466*). This is a way of closely monitoring these people, to avoid further contagion, but also to better control their progress. There are very restrictive quarantines decreed in certain districts or villages, which further complicates the daily life of Cubans, already hard hit by the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States for several decades.

And precisely, even at a time of global crisis, the US administration will stop at nothing to try to bring Cuba and its people to their knees. Since his arrival at the White House, Donald Trump has continued to strengthen this criminal blockade day after day, preventing Cuba from gaining access to oil cargoes, and more recently to the equipment, materials and solidarity aid that comes from elsewhere.

Indeed, Cuban authorities denounced last week that a shipment of equipment to combat Covid-19, donated by a Chinese foundation, had been blocked. The reason? The freight company refused to take the equipment to Cuba, claiming that its main shareholder is an American company subject to the trade embargo on Cuba.

More recently, Cuba was refused orders for respirators from two Swiss suppliers with whom they used to do business. The manufacturers were bought by an American company based in Illinois, USA, and instructed to suspend all business relations with Cuba.

One can agree or disagree with the political regime in Cuba, but these measures, in these times of pandemic, are selfish and criminal.

It is in this situation that your contributions are even more important for Cuba and its people! We thank Crowdify.net for not following the measures of the blockade and for allowing us to continue to raise the money necessary for the Cuban health system to cope with the coronavirus!

Unfortunately, this is not the case for all Swiss platforms and banks. Yes, even in Switzerland, the United States is imposing its will!

In the last two days we have received complaints from supporters and members of our association, because their banks have blocked the donations made to support our emergency appeal for help. Can you imagine? They won't let you do what you want with your money, just because there's a mention of Cuba somewhere in the bank transfer.

Is solidarity a crime? It is, in any case, the only solution to get out of this crisis! As Cuba, and you, have shown us! Thank you for helping us believe that humanity is not lost! That we are all in the same boat and that we can all row in the right direction!

Thank you for continuing to share our campaign! It really needs to reach as many people as possible to show that together we are stronger!


* Figures from April 14, 2020.