Solidarity from African Diaspora: Bringing Medicine to Havana’s Most Vulnerable

Amid Cuba’s severe medical shortages fueled by U.S. sanctions, the Diaspora Educational Foundation (La Fundación Educativa de la Diáspora) and Karibuni joined forces to deliver critical humanitarian aid to vulnerable populations in Havana.

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“Cuba’s facing a dire level of medical shortage, of medical supplies. So we're having a series 

of different events all throughout Havana to provide key levels of medical resources,” says James Guitard, Senior Vice President of Diaspora Educational Foundation.

Cuba is suffering a devastating economic crisis fueled by U.S. sanctions. The crisis has caused severe medicine shortages.

“It solves a big problem. Many elderly people cannot find these types of medicines at the pharmacy, but they can get them here,” says Pedro Manuel Sánchez, resident of Old Havana.

“Paracetamol, ibuprofen for pain. Hopefully they'll come back again,” adds Eva Suárez González, resident of Old Havana.

The event was organized by Karibuni, a Cuban local development project. Dozens of Cuban doctors, nurses and community volunteers participated.

“Last January, they brought the first aid package. Authorities closed the street to maintain an orderly waiting line. We work with many people here, but we prioritize vulnerable families in Old Havana. When this aid arrives, the population is truly grateful," says Kenia Serrano, Coordinator of Karibuni.

“We're a global foundation, philanthropic fund as well as multinational policy think tank. We do education initiatives, helping nutrition projects, technology programs, as well as global humanitarian assistance. We put a special global attention and focus on communities that have large numbers of Afro Cuban population. Many people don't recognize how Black Cuba actually is. And so this is an opportunity to forge greater levels of alliances. We coordinated locally with many of the major health clinics and hospitals. And we had doctors that are from there make the determination on what are the different types of medical supplies that we needed,” says James Guitard, Senior Vice President of Diaspora Educational Foundation.

“These are much-needed medicines. Painkillers, medicines for fever, for children and adults,” says Gilberto Guerra, volunteer Doctor.

“It’s medicine that’s free. And care is given to the elderly, to children. James almost always brings prenatal medications, which pregnant women have difficulty finding here,” says Caridad González, volunteer Nurse.

“It's very thoughtful and very welcome. As long as there are medicine shortages, I hope this activity keeps happening in a spirit of solidarity,” says Gilberto Guerra, volunteer Doctor.

“We respect the laws and the requirements that are required by the U.S. government for travel. 

We're here for support of the Cuban people. But we do understand the devastating, negative implications that the embargo has had upon Cuba. We're not here for our advocacy, but to support the Cuban people. We have open arms to meeting with you, building with you, collaborating with you, so that we can make a constructive and positive difference,” says James Guitard, Senior Vice President of Diaspora Educational Foundation.