LavenderRed_Cubabook

Cuban government offer
Lage Dávila concluded with an offer from the Cuban government to the poorest countries
and those with the highest prevalence of the illness:
• Four thousand doctors and health personnel to create the necessary infrastructure
to supply the population with the prescription drugs and necessary follow-up
and to train a large number of specialists in their own fields, including nurses
and allied health technicians.
• Sufficient professors to establish 20 medical schools, many of whom could be
chosen out of the 2,359 Cuban doctors who were then serving in 17 countries as
part of Cuba’s Integral Health Program. These schools could train 1,000 doctors
annually in countries that need the most assistance.
• Doctors, teachers, psychologists and other specialists needed to assess and
collaborate with campaigns to prevent AIDS and other illnesses.
• Diagnostic equipment and kits necessary for basic prevention programs.
• Anti-retroviral treatment for 30,000 patients.
Lage Dávila concluded, “All it would take is for the international community to provide
the raw materials for the medicines, the equipment and material resources for these
products and services. Cuba would not obtain any profits, and would pay salaries in
its national currency, thus taking on the most expensive part for international health
agencies, as well as the most difficult part, which is to ensure that the professionals are
prepared and ready to begin their work.”
The U.S.-led political and economic blockade of Cuba kept this offer of socialist solidarity
from reaching those around the world who most needed it.
60 Rainbow Solidarity in Defense of Cuba