The U.S. economic blockade of Cuba intentionally hurts Cuba’s people in almost every way possible. Although the policy was initiated 63 years ago, the Trump administration has turned the screws far more and is targeting Cuba’s remarkably successful healthcare system.
The blockade, a crucial part of the U.S. assault on Cuba, is consistent with U.S.-engineered shortages in all aspects of life and living in Cuba. Now, Cuban doctors and their patients are facing increasing shortages of materials, including drugs, reagents for making drugs, hospital equipment, and surgical supplies.
International solidarity with peoples in trouble is among the highest of human aspirations. Providing them with material aid traditionally has been a way to express solidarity. As regards Cuba, the time is now for doing exactly that, says Henry Lowendorf, chair of the CPUSA’s Peace and Solidarity Commission. He told this reporter, “For the Party, saving lives is a first priority. And reaching out to provide material aid contributes to heightened awareness of the cruelty and illegality of the U.S. blockade of Cuba.”
Lowendorf pointed out that “The CPUSA has also prioritized increased solidarity with Cuba. One way to show this is to urge all activists who can spare a few dollars right now to send aid to Cuba.”
The Party has turned to Global Health Partners (GHP) to provide the means for doing so. That organization has long delivered medical supplies to Latin American countries, particularly to Cuba.
Presently, GHP is sending cardiac pacemakers to Cuba. GHP points out that “Cuba has a dire shortage of pacemakers, leaving patients with a three-year wait for these devices. The U.S. embargo prevents the country from purchasing pacemakers in the global market, and Cuba urgently needs 2,000 pacemakers to treat its heart patients.”
Henry Lowendorf calls upon CPUSA members, their friends, and associates to join Global Health Partners’ campaign to send pacemakers to Cuba. Campaign organizers say they want “to raise an additional $150,000 to provide Cuba with another urgent supply of pacemakers within the next 90 days.” The CPUSA is calling upon one and all to support this campaign.
According to GHP, “MediCuba Europa and the Saving Lives Campaign have already delivered 440 pacemakers to Cuban hospitals, with 110 more units on the way. These lifesaving devices are already being implanted in Cubans with heart disease.”
The organization’s website highlights the campaign’s purpose of putting “your donation to work immediately to combat the inhumane embargo that is increasingly inflicting hunger and hardship on the Cuban people.” GHP “will speed a humanitarian shipment of pacemakers that will save lives and pierce the cruel medical embargo.”
Donations are made by completing the donation form found on the page that comes up via this link:
HELP SEND MORE LIFESAVING PACEMAKERS TO CUBA NOW! – Global Health Partners
Or click here.
Donors can also mail checks payable to Global Health Partners, with the memo Pacemakers, at 39 Broadway, Suite 1540, New York, NY 10006.
Global Health Partners is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a tax deduction, donors should save the email donation receipt from GiveDirect as an official record.
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