US Blockade Endangers Cuban Health Programs

Havana, Oct 14. -The intensification of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba jeopardizes the National Transplant Program, which now contributes to increase life expectancy of citizens.Cuba's National Kidney Transplant Program requires anti-HLA serological reagents of high quality, which for years were purchased from the One Lambda company via third countries, to carry out its studies of Histocompatibility (HLA) on scientific and ethical basis.

Washington's stance negatively impacted the acquisition of such reagents, according to a report on resolution 65/6 of the United Nations General Assembly, entitled "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba."

According to the report, the U.S. blockade will bring about the paralysis of the National Transplant Program or bring it to a less scientific level.

The White House's efforts also prevented the National Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases to buy the counting equipment of gamma-ray radiation from the US Perkin Elmer company.

The counting equipment is needed for processing hormone tests while diagnosing diseases in that specialty.

U.S. President Barack Obama maintains intact the policy against Cuba, which began almost half a century ago, despite intense and growing demands of the international community, the report said. (Prensa Latina)