LavenderRed_Cubabook

U.S. imperialist blockade obstructed
Cuban AIDS treatment
The Cuban approach to AIDS saved lives, Joseph Mutti stated in June 1999. “Cuba
now has one of the world’s lowest rates of infection, with only one of every 1,500
persons testing HIV-positive (the U.S. rate is 1 of every 550). That statistic is especially
remarkable given Cuba’s sexually active youth and easygoing attitudes about sex.”
Medicc Review editors explained that, “By the end of 2001, Cuba will have approved
its most ambitious offensive yet against HIV/AIDS: setting up a National Task Force
Against AIDS (GOPELS),” to be headed by the minister of public health and the secretary
of the council of ministers.
“Their job will be to integrate prevention strategies among the various national players,
including the Public Health and Education Ministries, the Federation of Cuban Women,
and other government agencies and NGOs. They will be guided by the ‘Strategic Plan for
Controlling HIV/AIDS,’ outlining national strategies against the virus for the next five
years.” (“Cuba’s Strategy”)
The biggest problem in dealing with AIDS on the island continued to be access to
medicine for free distribution to the population because of the U.S. blockade.
Medicc Review noted in 2001 that, “Early treatment of AIDS consisted of AZT,
interferons and other drugs commonly used in international protocols—but often more
difficult for Cuba to purchase because many were patented by U.S. pharmaceutical companies
and therefore not freely available to Cuban importers under the restrictions imposed
by the U.S. embargo.
“Earlier this year, Cuba began to manufacture its own anti-retrovirals and make them
available to AIDS patients free of charge. Cuba has maintained a strong research component
in the fight against AIDS, primarily through studies of the application of interferons
to AIDS patients and the continued research to develop an HIV/AIDS vaccine.”
In February 2003, treatment of Cubans with AIDS had greatly improved over the
past two years because Cuba’s pharmaceutical industry was producing its own generic
copies of anti-HIV medicines. Dr. Byron Barksdale, director of a U.S. medical group,
said, “Cuba now produces enough anti-viral medicines for its own patients and it has
offered to supply other nations in the Caribbean region.” (Cookson)
U.S. imperialist blockade obstructed Cuban AIDS treatment 57