BioCubaFarma COVID-19 battle

BioCubaFarma in the COVID-19 battle

BioCubaFarma in the COVID-19 battle
To learn about progress being made in scientific research to identify new products to treat COVID-19, Granma interviews Dr. Eduardo Martínez Díaz, president of BioCubaFarma Enterprise Group

Author: Orfilio Peláez | informacion@granmai.cu
april 15, 2020 10:04:11

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Photo: Ricardo López Hevia
To learn about progress being made in scientific research to identify new products to treat COVID-19, Granma interviews Dr. Eduardo Martínez Díaz, president of the BioCubaFarma Enterprise Group:

-What has the Cuban biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry been doing to confront COVID-19?

-Our Enterprise Group has a specific plan with four fundamental components which are

*Supply medicines included in the COVID-19treatment protocol established by the Ministry of Public Health (Minsap).

*Research and development to provide new products and knowledge to combat this virus

*Cooperation with other countries in supplying drugs to fight the pandemic

*Take steps internally within our companies to protect workers and guarantee operations under current circumstances

-How many products does BioCubaFarma currently provide for Cuba’s COVID-19 treatment protocol?

-At the beginning, 22 medicines were identified, several anti-virals, primarily Interferon, and an important group of drugs for hospital use with patients in different phases, including those in serious and critical condition. We currently have stocks of these for thousands of patients and continue to expand production capacity.

BioCubaFarma companies have added production of face masks and sanitizing products such as medicinal soaps, hypochlorite solution, hydroalcoholic solutions, etc. Continue reading BioCubaFarma in the COVID-19 battle →

Cuba Ventilator Coronavirus

US prevents the sale of ventilators to Cuba

U.S. company buys ventilator supplier and cancels shipments to Cuba citing blockade
Cuba has attempted to acquire medicine and supplies with 60 U.S. firms – only two have replied

Walkiria Juanes Sánchezapril 13, 2020 10:04:44

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Photo: Martirena
While Cuban medical collaboration is extended around the world to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic, the insane blockade imposed by the United States on our country, has just denied our public health system access to two regular suppliers of ventilators, key to the care of the most serious cases of the disease.

In another twist of this genocidal, inhumane policy, the manufacturers IMTMedical AG and Acutronic, announced the end of commercial relations with Cuba, after the companies were acquired by the U.S. firm Vyaire Medical Inc.

“Unfortunately, the corporate guideline we have today is to suspend all commercial relations with Medicuba,” both stated, according to the director for Latin America and the Caribbean at Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex), Eugenio Martínez Enríquez, on his Twitter account.

The Cuban diplomat also denounced that fact that the blockade prevents Cuba from purchasing medicines from U.S. firms, as recently confirmed by Lázaro Silva, vice president of Medicuba, the entity that imports drugs, equipment and medical supplies for the country’s public health system.

This new blow, promoted by the Trump administration, comes just hours after the director of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, called for putting sanctions “in quarantine,” since “thousands of lives are at stake,” alluding to the danger posed by the new coronavirus.

Unfortunately, this it is just another sign of the U.S. government’s contempt for life and hatred of the Cuban people.

Just days ago, the Cuban government denounced the loss of a donation of medical supplies to combat COVID-19, from the Chinese foundation Alibaba, which was not delivered because the U.S. company contracted for the task backed out, at the last minute, citing blockade regulations.

Over the last year, Cuba has suffered damages of 160 million dollars as a result of U.S. sanctions in the field of health, alone, obliged to make purchases from distant countries and thus incurring higher shipping costs.

Cuba fight drug trafficking

Cuba fights illicit drug trafficking and the United States knows it

Cuba fights illicit drug trafficking and the United States knows it
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounces accusations of drug trafficking by Cuba and Venezuela, published in Newsweek magazine and attributed to a high-ranking official in the U.S. Department of Defense

Granmaapril 14, 2020 10:04:32

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Photo: Yahily Hernández Porto
Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex) sent a communiqué to the United States embassy in Havana, denouncing a claim published in Newsweek magazine, in an article dated April 3, 2020, by a “senior official” of the United States Department of Defense, according to which the U.S. intelligence community has evidence “that drug shipments have taken place between Venezuela and Cuba.”

The text of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs states, “This statement, if it was made, contrasts sharply with the content of the 2020 “Report on the International Narcotics Control Strategy,” published by the State Department, in which it is recognized that “Cuba is not a major consumer, producer or transit point for illicit drugs,” that “domestic production and consumption … continue to be low due to active surveillance, strict sentences and national prevention and public information programs,” and that “Cuba dedicates significant resources to reduce the availability of illicit drugs and their use, and regional traffickers generally avoid Cuba.”

Minrex adds that the same report recognizes the positive results of efforts by Cuban authorities to reduce the supply of drugs and prevent traffickers from establishing a foothold in the country.

The communiqué cites Cuba’s international cooperation in combating illicit drug trafficking and the many official bilateral agreements signed, including one with the United States, emphasizing that, under this agreement, authorities in the two countries regularly share information and coordinate responses in this arena.

“The U.S. government and its specialized agencies have more than enough information to deny the defamatory claims made by a “senior official” of the Defense Department, plenty of evidence to reaffirm that the Newsweek report is untrue, fully aware that Cuba has a zero tolerance policy against drug trafficking and actively participates in regional and global initiatives and programs to confront the consumption of narcotics,” the communiqué dated April 13, 2020, concludes.

Cuba COVID-19

Cuba reinforces battle against COVID-19

http://en.granma.cu/
Cuba reinforces battle against COVID-19 as new epidemiological stage is reported
During the meeting led every afternoon by the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, yesterday April 8, it was announced that the country has entered the limited internal transmission stage, requiring more stringent measures
Author: Leticia Martínez | informacion@granma.cu
april 8, 2020 11:04:49

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Photo: Estudios Revolución
Cuba has entered the stage of limited internal transmission of COVID-19, as reported by public health authorities during the meeting led every afternoon by the President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, yesterday April 8, to review implementation of the plan approved by the Cuban government for the prevention and control of the new coronavirus, with 396 cases now confirmed.
This stage, explained Public Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda, is declared “when cases are confirmed in which establishing a link with travelers from affected areas is not possible, and are limited to small clusters in specific locations or institutions within the country.” Continue reading Cuba reinforces battle against COVID-19 →