Madrid, April 21 — Medical supplies for Cuba were acquired in Euskadi, Basque Country, thanks to a private contribution and previous fundraising efforts, organizers of the campaign announced today.
The Basque union LAB received a private donation of 150,000 euros destined for Cuba's healthcare system, it was reported this Tuesday.
LAB has conducted a fundraising and medical supply collection campaign for the island, alongside the Euskadi-Cuba, Sierra Maestra, and Desembarco del Granma associations (composed of Cubans residing in Spain).
Following a collection of over 17,000 euros, a total of 167,311 euros has been dedicated to the purchase of 154 dual-chamber pacemakers for patients on the island, through Medicuba-Europa, a network of Associations and NGOs from 13 European states.
According to the source, the goal was to reach one thousand single-chamber and dual-chamber pacemakers, thereby covering the country's deficit; with the Basque contribution, this goal has nearly been met.
The cost per unit is 550 euros for single-chamber pacemakers and 1,090 euros for dual-chamber ones.
"Langileon elkartasunez, blokeoa hautsi!" (Through the solidarity of workers, let's break the blockade!) was the slogan of the aforementioned Basque solidarity campaign, which collected up to six tons of medical supplies over several months across more than 20 LAB union locations and hospital centers.
The supplies were sent in two maritime containers destined for Cuban hospitals. Additionally, 185 kilograms of medicines, valued at 36,000 euros, were also collected.
The campaign organizers stated that the initiative, launched on September 1, was a direct response "to the criminal economic blockade by the United States, which has intensified in recent years with 243 additional coercive measures and the infamous inclusion of Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism."
"These policies, designed to suffocate Cuba, have reduced the basic stock of medicines in Cuban hospitals and pharmacies to a meager 30 percent, massively violating the human right to health," they added.
