U.S. blockade of Cuba puts children at risk
U.S. blockade of Cuba puts children at risk
by: Roberta Wood
September 30 2015
It's totally unnecessary, but somewhere in Cuba a small child is undergoing risky open-heart surgery. This is because the U.S. Congress refuses to lift the blockade that would allow Cuban pediatric hospitals to purchase a device that would make it possible to treat her heart conditionwith a safer and less painful procedure.This is just one example of the many cruel and senseless effects of the U.S. blockade of Cuba.
But human rights advocates are hopeful that although only Congress can end the blockade, it may be possible for President Obama to use his broad executive powers to bypass many of its most egregious provisions.
Although Cuba's socialist society guarantees all Cubansfree high-quality health care, some patients suffer as a result of U.S.international trade restrictions which deny them medical equipment and supplies, according to a report publishedthis summer by Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The report, issuedin support of a UN resolution for "ending of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," documents the ongoing impact of the 56-year blockade. Miguel Fraga, First Secretary of the Cuban Embassy of the United States explained that the extensive report on the real life impact of the blockade was compiled from institutions across the island.
More:
http://peoplesworld.org/u-s-blockade-of-cuba-puts-children-at-risk/