Norris R. McDonald | Cuba, America, and the health crisis: A tale of two systems

AS THE United States grapples with a growing public health crisis, its policies toward Cuba, a country with a superior healthcare system, remain antagonistic.

The irony is stark: while America is battling antibiotic-resistant infections, tick-borne diseases, and viral outbreaks, it continues to punish a nation that has one of the most effective medical assistance programmes in the world.

DYSENTERY, BIRD FLU, AND OTHER DISEASES

A rampant outbreak of antibiotic-resistant dysentery is sweeping through Oregon, particularly affecting the homeless population in Multnomah County. So far, 40 cases have been reported, with health officials warning that the numbers could rise.

Dysentery is a bacterial infection causing severe diarrhoea, spreads through contact with contaminated faeces, food, water, or sexual contact. While currently confined to homeless population there is no guarantee it won’t spread into the broader society! This is quite alarming!

Valley fever is another major disease spreading under the radar. It is a fungal infection originating in arid soils, and is emerging as a serious health concern, particularly as climate change expands its reach. Previously limited to the western US, cases are now appearing in Idaho, Montana, and the Dakotas.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu is also a source of grave alarm. It has jumped to dairy cows in Nevada, triggering alarm about potential economic repercussions. Although the public health risk remains low due to the lack of human-to-human transmission, infected livestock has already caused egg prices to skyrocket.

With poultry culls necessary to contain the spread, the cost of eggs has surged to nearly $30 for two-and-a-half dozen – a devastating blow for low-income households.

Then we have tick-borne disease known as Babesiosis, or ‘American Malaria’, that is spreading rapidly in the Northeast, with cases rising nine per cent annually from 2015 to 2022. Babesiosis symptoms mimics that of malaria – fever, chills, and anaemia.

A CLUELESS ‘GOD KING TRUMP’

The US is therefore facing a public health emergency but seems ill-equipped to handle it, much like the failures witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the same clueless ‘God King Trump and his MAGA acolytes’ – leadership that ignored early COVID-19 pandemic warnings – America suffered over 1.16 million deaths as of May 2023. Many more persons have developed long-term disabilities either from the virus itself or from untested vaccines rushed to market.

These outbreaks highlight the precarious state of public health in the US. Despite its vast wealth, the nation struggles to contain infectious diseases due to fragmented healthcare policies, lack of preventative measures, and social inequities.

Imagine that! The US is vilifying Cuba – a country with a vastly superior approach to disease prevention.

CUBA’S HEALTH MISSIONS UNDER US THREAT

In the meantime, Cuba’s medical diplomacy has long been a beacon of hope for underserved communities across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. However, US policies actively sabotage these efforts by restricting financial transactions that involve Cuban medical services. The consequences are dire:

• Reduced healthcare access: Many developing nations rely on Cuban doctors, but US sanctions deter partnerships, worsening medical shortages in remote regions.

• Strained diplomatic relations: Nations benefiting from Cuban medical aid face pressure to sever ties or risk losing US financial support.

• Weakened public health programmes: Cuban doctors are vital in combating diseases like malaria, dengue, and cholera, throughout the world, but US restrictions may limit their ability to participate in Caribbean, Latin America or global health initiatives.

• Economic fallout: Cuba generates significant revenue through medical services. US interference disrupts this model, hurting both Cuba’s economy and the healthcare systems of recipient countries.

For decades, Cuba has sent doctors to disaster zones worldwide. During the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Cuban medical teams treated over 400,000 cholera patients, reopening health clinics and setting up 23 field hospitals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Cuban doctors were deployed to Europe, filling gaps in Italy’s dysfunctional healthcare system. Even in 2023, Cuba maintained a presence in 56 countries, demonstrating its unwavering commitment to global health.

The Latin American School of Medicine in Havana has extended full medical scholarships to US students since 2001, with many graduates returning to serve impoverished communities. This initiative underscores Cuba’s philosophy of healthcare as a universal right rather than a privilege.

RUSSIA AND CHINA: CUBA’S STRATEGIC ALLIES

As the US tightens its sanctions, Cuba has found support from Russia and China. In November 2024, Russia pledged 80,000 tons of diesel fuel to aid Cuba’s energy sector. Moscow has also forgiven 90 per cent of Cuba’s Soviet-era debt and facilitated over 100 Russian businesses establishing operations in Cuba across various industries.

Meanwhile, China has provided emergency food aid, medical supplies, and nearly 70 tons of power generator parts to help restore Cuba’s electricity grid. Since 2000, China has invested approximately US$7.8 billion in Cuba’s infrastructure and trade.

Cuba’s recent accession to BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) presents a significant opportunity to counteract US sanctions. By diversifying trade partnerships, Cuba reduces its reliance on Western markets, mitigating economic vulnerability. Moreover, BRICS’s push to bypass the US dollar in international transactions provides Cuba with alternative financial mechanisms to conduct trade.

The US, recognising the threat of BRICS’s rising influence, has sought to extend its extraterritorial sanctions. However, such aggressive policies risk further isolating Washington diplomatically, as more nations pivot toward economic blocs that resist American dominance.

THE IRONY OF US HOSTILITY TO CUBA

My dear friends, while the US struggles to contain its own public health crises, it actively undermines a country that excels in disease prevention and global medical assistance.

What a cruel irony? This bleak contrast is damning.

America’s healthcare failures – from dysentery in Oregon to skyrocketing egg prices due to bird flu – are symptoms of a system that prioritises corporate profits over public well-being.

Meanwhile, Cuba, despite enduring six decades of economic strangulation, continues to provide world-class medical aid to those in need. As nations like Russia and China deepen their alliances with Havana, the US faces a stark reality: its policies are not only failing to crush Cuba but are also accelerating America’s own decline on the world stage.

It’s time for the US to change is backward approach. Instead of vilifying Cuba, perhaps it should learn from a nation that has managed to do what America cannot: and that is to prioritise healthcare as a fundamental human right.

That is just ‘the bitta truth’!

Norris McDonald is an economic journalist, political analyst, and respiratory therapist. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and miaminorris@yahoo.com.