Africa: Cuba - Key to Continent's Aids Pandemic
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
EDITORIAL
4 August 2008
Posted to the web 4 August 2008
Harare
THE bravery and fervour Cuban revolutionaries have displayed since time immemorial, from Jose Marti (whom Fidel Castro affectionately refers to as the Apostle of the Revolution) and General Antonio Maceo to Che Guevara and Vilma Espin, have always been an inspiration to those that truly love freedom and justice.
This passion for world peace stems from the revolutionary values which are at the core of Cuban society.
Often times, the world has seen how willing Cubans are to give their lives and resources in the pursuit of freedom and justice - such as they did at the Bay of Pigs in 1961, and in Angola, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.
It is quite interesting that despite this rich history of sacrifice, Commandante Fidel Castro has humbly indicated on numerous occasions that the greatest army ever assembled in Cuba, is that of the medical brigades.
These professional and well-trained brigades have many times represented their country patriotically not only at home but throughout the world.
Whether speaking in our indigenous or colonial languages, no one can ever find the right words with which to express our gratitude for the countless lives Cuban medical personnel have saved across the Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.
The commitment that the Cuban medical brigades have demonstrated is truly inspiring whether or not one supports Cuba's political and social ideology.
The poorest people in the world have benefited from free treatment that has been extended by the government of the largest island in the Caribbean.
This level of commitment and exemplary service has put Cuba at the forefront of intervention in containing the spread and impact of HIV and Aids on both the African continent and in the Diaspora.
While medical advocacy groups when revealing tragic statistics in relation to this deadly disease might have created a climate of panic that many of those with HIV or Aids never psychologically overcome, several top medical experts estimate there will be 18 million Aids orphans on the African continent by 2010.
Already close to a decade into the second millennium, it is time for Africa to fully appreciate a standing offer that Cuba has made to the continent to assist in dealing with the pandemic.
While the United Nations and various organisations such as the Global Fund were still busy setting up the Millennium Fund, Cde Castro communicated to the then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan that Cuba would like to lend its assistance to the cause.
He told Annan that because Cuba was under a decades-old blockade, the country could not give monetary aid but there was still a way in which he could give help.
Cde Castro said Cuba was willing to send 4 000 -- that's right, 4 000, of Cuba's best HIV and Aids doctors and specialists directly to Africa and that they would remain on the continent until the pandemic was defeated.
That offer, unfortunately was not taken up because the UN apparently feared the reaction from the United States -- Cuba's age-old enemy -- if it emerged that the Communist country was doing far more than anyone else in combating HIV and Aids.
So, sadly, nothing came out of the most generous offer.
It is fortunate that the region on the continent worst affected by HIV and Aids is also the same region that has the closest ties with Cuba on the continent: Southern Africa.
There are numerous Cuba Friendship Associations across the Sadc region and it is time these bodies jointly approached the African Union and made it clear that the continent should accept Cuba's offer.
People are always saying that Africa should be left to come up with solutions to its own problems and in Cuba's magnanimous offer, the continent has an opportunity to cast aside the conditional aid that comes from the West and effectively do something about HIV and Aids.
The time is more than ripe to submit a joint proposal to the AU, through the proper channels and established protocol, using the various Cuba Friendship Associations and through the offices of Sadc health ministers.
The proposal should call for the AU to create a joint fund from each member of the continent body to finance the 4 000-strong brigade that Cuba would like to send.
This money would be used for their upkeep.
Relevant Links
The AU should agree to let Cuba develop a training programme that helps African countries deal with droughts, floods and other natural calamities and disasters as these have a huge impact on HIV and Aids.
Read comments. Write your own.
I strongly agreed to your note; but to my dear brother or sister who wrote this article must remember that President Mugabe and his cronies didn't do it because of their selfishness - at that time, he and cronies were under very strong tension by the neocolonizers such as Britain. Remember that hence Africa has being free, some of these former colonizers thaught that they still own Africa. I think they have never learn not to play with fire. Or, to continue spill oil on fire. To put it blink, they are still arrogant and ignorant of what Africans belief… [Read Full Text]
Fory...., if you strongly agree with Prem about all the atrocities and other crimes Mugabe committed against humanity, are you saying then Mugabe did those crimes not because of his selfishness but because of his love? Man, you don't make sense. I would really like to ask you if you could give us an account as to what the British are doing to make it look like they own Zimbabwe or Africa for that matter because I am so tired of hearing the same rhetoric. Please enlighten us.
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What a cheek for the editors to claim, quote
" ... no one can ever find the right words with which to express our gratitude for the countless lives Cuban medical personnel have saved across the Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America." Unquote.
Where has been The Herald when lunatic Mugabe caused countless lives butchered in order to maintain himself in power illegitimately? Where has been The Herald when Mugabe stacked away illegally trillions of Dollars instead of replenishing hospital supplies in order to enable needles for use once only?
Today, innocent Zimbabweans have been infected with HIV/AIDS due to… [Read Full Text]