Patricia is a Cuban adolescent suffering from Hodgkin’s lymphoma. (Pictures: Blog Patricia: I am strong)
Patricia is a Cuban adolescent suffering from Hodgkin’s lymphoma whose oncological care is assumed by Children Hospital Juan Manuel Márquez; where, because of political will of the Cuban State, in favor of the costless and ever better attention to the people’s health care, the high professional qualification of the specialists of that institution, the optimism and the spirit strength of the young patient, the battle against this disease is being won – year after year – since 2013.
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In this way, Patricia wrote in her blog Patricia: I am strong, on February 25, 2013, already in her second cycle of chemotherapy “After being admitted in the hospital, that same day, they did some analysis to me, in the morning; and the next day, the ultrasound test. As the results were okay; the following 26th, they started the treatment. I was under this medications: Sofran, Adriamisina, dextrosa, Vincristina, Hydration, Bleomycin, VP -16, Duralgina and Benadrilina in serum, for seven days. I took Omeprazol every 12 hours, and Prednisolona, 3 times a day.
“In hospital, I feel well, because the doctors and nurses, who take care of me, are very good. They always make us laugh, and they appreciate us much. On April first, I will have to be hospitalized again for my third cycle of treatment. I am going to have photos taken together with my friends and doctors, so that people get to know them (…).”
Patri and her family trust in the health services of their country, they feel protected for this struggle for life and happiness; today, the young girl studies a technical career in the specialty of dentistry; because under the protection of the safe medical attention, she has achieved a good deal of her dreams.
We met Patri in a community social-cultural project of Guanabacoa: United for you; in which, she feels very happy when she shares hopes with children and young patients of oncopediatrics.
But Patricia and her family’s good luck may not be that of another oncological patient from the Greatest of the Antilles, whose treatment require drugs or medical equipment from the area of the United States or other pharmaceutical corporations of the world, that depend on spare parts or components that come from that territory for their production; because in this case, probably, the diagnosis might be affected in its success. They would have to wait, or it would lengthen more in time.
What’s the reason? The reason is the brutal commercial, economic and financial blockade of the United States against Cuba. Among their targets; they have, the health services of this country. A genocide action against our people, that lasts for more than fifty years.
And nobody should mistake in the world by thinking about the present relations Cuba-USA, which have not changed much the panorama on how the blockade affects almost all areas of life in the Island. Only certain measures put in force by Obama’s administration, so as to lessen directives imposed by the blockade, not enough to clear the great deal of laws and acts, which during all this time, have been used with the intention to suffocate and pull down the Cuban Revolution.
Here, an example: the Cuban oncological hospitals count on essential equipments for the treatment of cancer; such as, that of branchitherapy, whose functioning requires Iridium 192. The equipments were acquired from the Brazilian Corporation Elekta. This company imported this Iridium-192 from the American Mallimckrodt. Recently, Elekta informed the Cuban counterpart that the North American enterprise, according to the rules of the blockade, decided not to supply said items, because the Departament of Treasure has not granted the corresponding license.
As we see, this affectation is suffered directly by the patients, many of them, children, who will not be able to receive the adequate treatment until the Cuban Government negotiates with another supplier; considering that will be with a high additional value.
This and other evidences about what is a trully and indisputable reality, were presented by chancellor Bruno Rodríguez, as he was in presence of our national and foreign press accredited in Cuba, the report that was discussed today in the General Assembly of the United Nations. Especially in such a sensible sector as the health care, the affectations have been high. Here, some others presented by the Cuban chancellor:
The International Orthopedic Complex Frank País was limited in the acquisition of prothesis for the articulation of wrists and hands in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, since the market of this type of prothesis is controlled by North American corporations; such as, Small Bone Innovation, Inc. (SBI).
-The SBI in Europe refused to supply the product to Cuba. So, in case a pacient is in need on one, he has to go abroad or receive palliative operations; which means, that possibly his problem will not be solved, including the high expenses he has to afford.
With the botulinic toxin for the treatment of spasticity, as a sign present in more than 80 percent of patients with neurological diseases, the same situation occurs.The International Center of Neurological Restoration (Ciren) informed that they can acquired the toxin with the trade mark Botox, directly in the United States so, it has to buy it through a third country, what makes the price between 200 and 500 dollars.
Patricia with his mom and dad.
Despite the fact that the enterprises that produce botulinic toxin in the world, have diversified, and also taking into account that in the world market, there are marks as Neurobloc, Xeomen and Dysport. Botox keeps the lead.
The Neurology and Neurosurgery Institute Dr. Rafael Estrada, reported that in a recent date, the North American company Fujirebio Diagnostics Inc. denied the acquisition of the kit of laboraory CanAg NSE EIA, which is used for the detection of the specific neuron enolase protein, in serum and cephalorachidian liquid.
This element is used as a diagnostic and prognostic marker, in case of cerebrovascular diseases, of type ischemic, which occupy high indexes of morbimortality in Cuba.
Another of the affectations causing more traumatism, is that of Pediatric Cardiocenter William Soler, which since 2007 was put in the category of “denied hospital” by the Control Office of Foreign Assets (OFAC), which imposes conditions for the sale of items that require previous licence.
Since then, the companies NuMED, AGA Medical and Boston Scientific could not continue to supply the interventionist catherism dispositivies, what forces children to open-heart surgery, with higher risks of complications and mortality, and the increase of costs.
The Institute of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery cannot count on the set extractor of cables or electrodes of cardiac pacemakers or of automatic implantable desfibrilators of the North American firm Cook. The lacking of this equipment compels us to practice surgical intervention with extracorporeous circulation to extract the electrodes, rising the risks of complications to the patients.
Doctor José Maximiliano Valdés Marín, who attended Patricia.
As Dr. Pedro Luis Véliz – director of the National Council of Scientific Societies of Health – recently stated to the National Information Agency, regarding the blockade. This has an effect on “equipments of urgency, of intensive care, of ventilation, of thermodynamic, cardiovascular and neurologic, monitorization; including drugs, what puts the health system in a difficult situation, when there is a patient in a critical state.”
The financial, economic blockade of the United States against the Island has caused and causes – among others – incalculable prejudices to its health system, even though both people wanted some friendship relation. Cuba works for peace and the understanding between both nations; but, as the Cuban Government has reiterated, in order to exist a normal relation between both countries and States, it is necessary the elimination of that siege, which during more than five decades has kept Washington against Havana; resulting in important affectations to the material, psychic and spiritual welfare of the Cuban people; as well as, the imposition of serious obstacles to its economic, cultural and social development.”
Translated by: Reinaldo Fernández
