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 Kourà 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!