Ms. Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of UNAIDS, lauded Cuba’s significant contributions to global health during her visit to the Caribbean nation. Byanyima emphasized Cuba’s potential for South-South cooperation in healthcare, highlighting its longstanding solidarity with developing countries, particularly in health and education sectors.
During her visit from May 6 to 9, Byanyima aimed to understand and share Cuba’s achievements in health, including its historic milestone of eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission. She acknowledged Cuba’s resilience in the face of challenges such as the US blockade, which impedes progress in healthcare and HIV/AIDS initiatives.
On 30 June 2015, the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization announced that Cuba had become the first nation to virtually eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.
Despite obstacles, Byanyima commended Cuba’s leadership in healthcare, citing its universal healthcare model and comprehensive approach to disease prevention. She stressed the importance of viewing health as a fundamental human right, a principle that Cuba exemplifies and advocates for globally.
Throughout her visit, Byanyima engaged with Cuban ministries, institutions, and research centers, including meetings with President Miguel Díaz-Canel. The insights gained will be shared with African, Asian, and Latin American countries undergoing healthcare system reforms.
Byanyima also explored opportunities for Cuba to share its healthcare technology and products with developing nations, seeking avenues for financing to support Cuba’s healthcare advancements.
Highlighting previous collaborations within the Group of 77 plus China, Byanyima expressed a desire to further develop South-South collaboration initiatives, particularly in healthcare, as Brazil assumes the G-20 presidency and promotes alliances to enhance medicine production capabilities among member countries.
