Caring in Crisis: Resources from the Revolution

Graphic from Cuba's Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) as adapted by Cuba Platform.

May 22, 2020

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

This Tuesday, Cubans commemorated the 125th anniversary of the death of Jose Martí. Martí, a philosopher, writer, and leader of the movement for Cuban Independence, left the world a vision for a society “with all and for the good of all.”
 
In this spirit, we turn week 10 of our Caring in Crisis Newsletter (#COVID-19) to ideas and infrastructure that Cuba carries forward from the first years of the revolutionary government into its response to the coronavirus today. 
 
Cuba is continuing to see declining numbers of confirmed cases, and has succeeded in keeping its “curve” within a projected “best case” scenario (as depicted in the figure above). While there is still a long road ahead before the epidemic is over – and many other serious challenges facing Cuba – we at the Platform are beginning to think through what the island’s experiences with COVID-19 mean for the global community in terms of understanding successful and unsuccessful responses to crisis.
 
Following this week’s look at resources Cuba’s pulls from revolutionary history, next week will bring a reflection on lessons from Cuba’s Special Period, and the week following we will turn toward new innovations and responses.
 
Cuba and COVID-19
 
The transmission of COVID-19 in Cuba continues to decline. Cuban authorities reported only 8 new cases yesterday, and as of Wednesday night, 84% of coronavirus patients have recovered. In certain areas of the Camagüey province, health authorities began testing asymptomatic people with no prior contact with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 patients; a move that will bring greater understanding of the prevalence of the virus in the population. Quarantine has been lifted in a neighborhood in the Isla de la Juventud that was previously under lock down. The Cuban press reports that the novel drug, Itolizumab monoclonal antibody, developed at Cuba’s Center for Molecular Immunology for the treatment of lymphomas and leukemia, is now being used with COVID-19 patients.
 
Medical Internationalism and International Affairs
 
An article and video by Belly of the Beast published today in the Nation Magazine gives voice to the Cuban doctors and nurses traveling abroad in medical brigades: "We don't care that other countries brand us as slaves," one says, "what is important to us is contributing to humanity." Also, Reuters reported this week that a brigade of as many as 500-600 Cuban doctors and nurses are now quietly assisting in Mexico City. In Brazil, where the right-wing government had previously terminated its contract for Cuban medical assistance, the Cuban doctors who stayed on are now receiving licenses to begin practicing again.
 
Meanwhile, a Cuban diplomat describes relations between the two countries as at an all-time low and denounces the U.S. government for lack of response to the island’s demand for information regarding an assault on the Cuban embassy in Washington that occurred late last month.
 
Preventative Healthcare
 
Healthcare, education, and agrarian reform are often pointed to as Pillars of the Cuban Revolution. While the country does face a worsening economic crisis, as well as other serious challenges, the strengths of the revolution shine brightly in times of crisis. On May 6, the Cuba Platform hosted a virtual screening of our short film “Martica, A Family Doctor” and held a discussion with Rodney González of the Cuban Embassy in Washington D.C. As Mr. González described it, Cuba’s moves in the 1960s to develop a healthcare system that could reach even the most remote communities provide the roots for Cuba’s recent brigades of medical students and doctors going door-to-door to survey Cubans about and assess their status in relation to the coronavirus. Read a summary, listen, or watch that conversation here. As described in an article in Shadow Proof, this system has become a model for street medics in the U.S. attempting to care for vulnerable populations.
 
Public Education and Communication
 
Another cornerstone of Cuban public policy is tuition-free access to education at all levels, a commitment that was launched with the Cuban Literacy Campaign of 1961. Universal literacy also set the stage for public dissemination of information, which takes place through print media, as well as public television and in-person meetings.
 
During emergencies, open and transparent communication is essential for public health and crisis management. Before social distancing measures took effect, CDR meetings (neighborhood “committees for the defense of the revolution) served as a venue for local doctors to share information about the virus. Now, Cubans turn on the TV everyday at 9:00am, or dial in on the radio to listen to the press conference offered by Dr. Francisco Duran Garcia, national director of epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health. 
 
 
Food For All
 
Cuba centralized agricultural production and food distribution in the 1960s. Various reforms have been adapted over the years, and the island continues to debate how to better meet the challenge of increasing agricultural productivity and food sovereignty. The context created by COVID-19, coupled with broader economic challenges, has brought long lines and concerns over access to certain items. However, the country’s centralized control over food has made possible the implementation of measures that have prevented the levels of food insecurity and hunger currently seen in many parts of the world. The island has used the ration system (first implemented decades ago) to ensure distribution of items during the crisis, including items that are typically sold freely at stores dealing in hard currency.
 
 
We hope that you are well and beginning to see signs of hope wherever you are. Continuing scrolling for additional links and our arts feature of the week, and look out next Friday for a look at Cuba’s Special Period in relation to the current situation.
 
Take Care,
 
Sarah, Justine, Mariakarla
 

Read the summary, listen, or watch our conversation with Rodney here

Public access to art is fundamental to Cuban culture and society. Like other museums around the world, Cuba's Bellas Artes museum has put forth the challenge to recreate works from their collection at home. Left, Ani Laura recreates "Maternidad (Maternity), 1952" by Wifredo Lam. Right, Alex Alvarez Martínez creates "¿Quiere más cafe (would you like more coffee), Don Ignacio? 2036" by Antonio Gattorno.