The president stated on social media that the distinction, awarded by the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reaffirms an exceptional achievement in health matters for the Caribbean nation.

  “Cuba, which in 2015 became the first nation in the world to reach this milestone, continues to demonstrate that universal health coverage, firm political commitment, and robust primary care are fundamental pillars for protecting pregnant women and their children,” the president noted.

  He also confirmed that, with this result maintained for more than a decade, the country remains among the group of some twenty nations and territories that guarantee the elimination of these diseases in newborns.

  Diaz-Canel attributed Cuba’s success in this sector to “decades of dedication from our healthcare professionals, amidst the worst economic blockade ever suffered by any nation,” referring to the economic, financial, and commercial embargo imposed by the United States for more than 60 years.

  “I always wonder how much more we could do for our people and for the world, without the noose of the genocidal blockade around our necks,” he concluded.

  Despite the unprecedented intensification of Washington’s unilateral blockade of the island, which severely limits the country’s development, Cuban authorities maintain the political will to prioritize healthcare programs, especially those related to maternal and child health.

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