The Cuban diplomat spoke at the national convention “Healthcare Under Attack,” held in the Italian city of Naples, where he addressed the consequences of the U.S. government’s “maximum pressure” policy against the island, which has persisted for over 65 years.

Delgado participated in a session titled “Strangled Healthcare Systems: From the Embargo on Cuba to the Marginalization of Global Health Peripheries,” which examined the effects of economic sanctions, inequalities in access to medicines, and the challenges involved in developing and producing vaccines.

The deputy head of mission at the Cuban Embassy in Italy noted that, despite the United States’ attempt to subject the Cuban people to a “silent genocide”—a term used by United Nations experts—Cuban health authorities and medical professionals continue to seek alternatives and solutions to preserve the vitality of their healthcare system.

He also highlighted Cuba’s determination to keep its international medical solidarity and cooperation, despite campaigns of persecution orchestrated by the United States aimed at dismantling this humanitarian, solidarity-based program.

Fabrizio Chiodo, a researcher at Italy’s National Research Council and a collaborator with the Finlay Vaccine Institute in Havana, also spoke on the subject, addressing the challenges faced by Cuban science in developing and producing vaccines under the conditions of an economic and financial blockade.

Another session of the convention focused on trauma, nutrition, and mental health in contexts of oppression, with speakers examining the psychological repercussions of occupation—particularly during childhood—as well as the damage to Gaza’s agrifood system and the challenges of addressing neurodevelopmental disorders under conditions of siege.

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