U.S. Blockade on Cuba Hinders Fighting HIV/AIDS
Havana, Oct 11. -The US-imposed economic, trade and financial blockade hinders cooperation between Cuba and international multilateral agencies engaged in fighting HIV/AIDS.In January 2011, the U.S. government seized 4.207.000 USD of the Global Fund finance to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Those resources would be allocated to implement cooperation projects with Cuba to fight the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and tuberculosis.
This deliberate act has hampered the implementation of three projects whose significant impact on segments of the affected population is known; states a report on Resolution 65/6 of the UN General Assembly entitled "The Necessity of Ending the Economic, Commercial, and Financial Blockade Imposed by the United States of America against Cuba."
The action is even more serious because it affects funding for training, prevention and treatment of people affected by HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, particularly the purchase of medicines, antiretroviral drugs, and foods for sick people.
Cuba denounced this measure as an illegal action that also seeks to seriously hamper international cooperation provided by the UN system through its agencies, funds and programs.
Despite intensive and increasing demands from the international community to the U.S. government for a change towards Cuba, U.S. President Barack Obama maintains intact that policy, the text recalls.
It is in essence and objectives, an act of unilateral aggression and a permanent threat to the stability of a country, the document states.
The direct economic damage caused to Cuba, if we take into consideration the depreciation of the U.S. dollar against the value of gold in the international financial market, would exceed 975 billion USD. (Prensa Latina)