UNEQUIVOCAL SIGNS

There are not two different opinions on the A H1N1 issue.

I unhesitatingly supported the decision adopted by the Revolutionary Government of Cuba as soon as it got news of the epidemic.

Our country has accumulated a significant experience in the protection of our people in cases of disasters, epidemics, plagues and other similar situations whether natural, accidental or intentional.

Our unchangeable policy of cooperation with other peoples has also been proven.

The criticism made of the Government of Cuba was absolutely unfair, the same as the threat of retaliation it contained. Additionally, we were portrayed as a hostile nation to the Mexican people.

It was not the tourist travels that determined the measure but the almost four hundred Mexican youths studying Medicine at the Jaguey Grande School, like 24 thousand other students from Latin America, the Caribbean and other peoples of the world --some from very distant nations in Oceania-- who pursue the same career in other Medical Schools.

Cuba does not steal other peoples’ talents or doctors to the detriment of healthcare in those countries and the loss of countless lives. This is done by the United States, the United Kingdom and other wealthy and developed nations.

The measure adopted by the Civil Aviation Institute of Cuba literally reads: “As of midnight April 29, 2009, regular flights and charters operating between Mexico and Cuba will be temporarily suspended.”

“Once the causes for this decision cease to exist, air operations will be resumed and those interested will be timely informed.”

The measure was implemented six days after the drastic decisions made by the Mexican authorities who shutdown schools attended by 33 thousand students and took other similar actions which we cannot judge since only the Mexican authorities could do that knowing the real situation.

Our measures also meant sacrifices for Cuba. But the most important thing for our government was the protection of our people in the framework of the established regulations.

Now the epidemic has spread extensively through the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Spain and Europe in general, as well as scores of other countries. It will be necessary to apply protection methods in accordance with the new reality.

The Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations Patricia Espinosa had really made efforts lately to improve relations between her country and Cuba; relations that irresponsible leaders --for reasons that I’d rather not mention now-- had significantly deteriorated at a time when George W. Bush was trying to find a pretext to launch a “preemptive” attack on our Homeland, as one of the “60 or more dark corners of the world.”

The Mexican foreign relations ministry published that despite criticism by Fidel Castro, at the Rio Group-European Union meeting in Prague, the minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla had signed a statement expressing his recognition to the Mexican authorities.

What Bruno did in Prague was absolutely correct. He took all the time required to listen attentively to the foreign minister and exchange views with her. He communicated to her everything related to Cuba’s conduct. To avoid complications, I will not elaborate on the details of that conversation or the views transmitted about the meeting of a senior official of the Mexican foreign ministry with the Cuban ambassador in Mexico.

I will simply add that the meeting that Bruno and Patricia had in Prague was respectful and candid. Our foreign minister conveyed to his Mexican counterpart Cuba’s solidarity with her country and our willingness to cooperate with the Mexican people to face the epidemic.

Bruno addressed the Rio Group-European Union ministerial meeting to clearly explain Cuba’s position and the actions taken by our government to protect its people; the epidemics introduced in our country, including the hemorrhagic dengue which took the lives of 102 children; Fidel’s Reflections; the close unity among revolutionaries; and, the international cooperation Cuba provides in the area of healthcare.

Resorting to intrigue, lies and threats is an unequivocal sign that the ideological adversary is losing the battle.

Fidel Castro Ruz

May 16, 2009

7:45 p.m.

To learn how to take care us

By: María del Carmen Fuentes / Television Camagüey.

May 17 is devoted worldwide to the fight against the Arterial Hypertension. In Camagüey several activities promoted by the Ministry of Public Health look for to prevent it appearance among the population. The motto of this year 2009 are: Salt and arterial hypertension: two silenes murderous .

As here, in the entire world are carried out multiple activities for, taking advantage of this date, to carry out massive checking, scientific days, popularization of the benefits of the change of lifestyles for it appropriate treatment, sanitary education, etc.

In the bigger than the Antilles during the months of April and so far in May, each municipality has come developing a program directed by the Groups of Communication of the Primary Attention of Health and of the hospitals; understand each other promoters of health of the policlínics, nurses of the Clinics type 1 and type 2, activists of the hospital attention and infirmary assistants. They have materialized actions of Information, Education and Social Communication in scenarios of institutions of health and work centers.

On the other hand, in the Provincial Center of Education for the Health of the capital of Camagüey took place the central celebration of the county. With the participation of students of the secondary education, workers, and the population. Here a group of Thai Chi demonstrated how valuable it is this practice for the well-being of the body. The therapeutic gymnastics is an example of how each individual to any age can modify his lifestyle and to win health.

For Esther Caymares, to integrate from already more than three years this group of Thai Chi is very important. “The exercises improve the sanguine circulation and with are avoided it the cardiovascular sufferings, for example. I have also inserted my son that has severe mental delay and see it since improvement it is socialized and it character is modeled. In the group we are some fifty people of different generations, and among them, some have suffered heart attacks and since the Thai Chi practices perceive the improvement. We capture the positive energy and we transmit it to us each other.”

The Graduated Ernesto Rivera, responsible for the activities in the county comments of the impact of the same ones in work centers, institutions of health and the community. “What we look for is that the population takes conscience of the importance of preventing the suffering of the arterial hypertension, of assuming behaviors and healthy nutritious habits that contribute to a quality of superior life.”

So you, are on time of to change your lifestyle and not to trust. When preventing the arterial hypertension, avoids the accidents cardio and brain vasculars, as well as the increment of the illness renal chronicle. It will never be late to think about new goals...

To give life to the Rivers of Camagüey

By María del Carmen Fuentes / Television Camagüey.

In Camagüey, like part of the Exercise Meteor 2009, the rivers Hatibonico and Juan del Toro dredged that have caused in the last years considerable floods, when taking place meteorological phenomena as hurricanes or strong rains.

In the memory of the people from Camagüey are the images of the overflow of these currents of water and penetration in housings and economic objectives of the capital of Camagüey. With the purpose of minimizing this way a fact, and like part of this popular exercise, the works are intensified in its beds.

In the urban perimeter of the city of Camagüey 43 kilometers of rivers exist and flowing. Both more extensive and mightier are the Hatibonico and the Juan del Toro that cross the urban center of the biggest Cuban county literally.

Aramís León, subdelegate of the Institute of Hydraulic Resources in the county, aims that already in several tracts of both rivers have been duplicated to more than double his riversides, with that which improve the hygienic conditions and the conduction of the current of its birth until the outlet. “We are clearing all the bridges for where the rivers flow, softening the corners and enlarging the bed in the places where has decreased, well for the accumulation of brashes, earth, stones...”

“The actions are executed in inverse sense to the flow of water, in a such way that first it wins space the outlet, and the glide toward the prey Jimaguayú it is made to more speed, diminish this way the overflow risks”, precise.

The magnitude of the works, without precedents in both rivers of the capital of Camagüey requires the participation of brigades of Hydraulic, Communal Resources, and the Companies Manufacturers ECOA 17 and ECOING 15.

A work yearned by the people from Camagüey, and that will have continuity after the Exercise Meteor 2009. Without doubts, a preventive measure that reduces vulnerabilities.