22/04/2010
Unison health workers reinforce their commitment and solidarity with Cuba and Venezuela

The Cuban Ambassador in London, Rene Mujica, and the Counsellor of the Venezuelan Embassy in London, Alvaro Sanchez, teamed up to speak to Unison health workers about the social progress made in both of their countries.

The fringe meeting took place yesterday at the Unison Health Workers Conference in Brighton, and was attended by more than 40 people who gathered to listen to the speakers and ask questions about how they can consolidate their support with both revolutions.

Sanchez began by reviewing the progress made in the health sector in Venezuela where 6,000 new medical clinics have been set up across the country to offer free health care to everyone.

However, he also warned: “All the progress made in health and other social areas by the Bolivarian Revolution is increasingly under threat. There are seven new military bases in Colombia and many others in the Caribbean region, all surrounding Venezuela”.  Sanchez also added that “the media is playing damaging role against us. We see it daily in The Guardian, The Independent, The Times and even the BBC”.

Mujica shared important figures with the audience, such as: 4.8% infant mortality rate in Cuba, which is below that of the US. He also emphasised the level of international commitment by Cuba in terms of aiding other countries with medical attention and medical training.

“There are currently over 20,000 foreign students studying medicine at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana. In fact, there are even US medical students from poor backgrounds enrolled in Cuba who otherwise could not afford to study in their own country”, said Mujica.

Mujica also defined ALBA as an "economic, social and political integration process with strong social accent".

Both speakers were quick to remind the audience about the importance of celebrating special dates during the month of April both in Cuba and Venezuela, namely: the Cuban triumph against the US at the Bay of Pigs (April 17 – 19, 1961), the Venezuelan declaration of independence from Spain (April 19, 1810) and the seventh anniversary of Mision Barrio Adentro (April 7, 2003).

This fringe meeting was organised by the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign and Thompson Solicitors.

Press Unit of the Venezuelan Embassy in London