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Education Programs Fighting Period Poverty in Cuba

Period Poverty in CubaEstimates indicate that around 500 million women and girls suffer from period poverty globally. This has been acutely apparent in Latin America; a quarter of school-aged girls did not attend classes in Brazil during their periods due to a lack of sanitary products. Similarly, a study conducted in 2021 revealed that about 20% of “girls in rural Dominican Republic missed two to three school days each month during menstruation due to lack of access to sanitary pads.”

However, many Latin American states have made significant progress, with value-added tax (VAT) and “pink taxes” being eliminated in countries like Mexico and Colombia. Further, governments in Uruguay and Brazil are distributing menstrual kits and free sanitary products to those in need.

Period Poverty in Cuba

Cuba has no menstrual taxes. However, this does not mean female hygiene products are widely accessible. Period pads or “intimates” as they are called in Cuba, are included in the state rationing program. A monthly allocation of 10 sanitary towels is given to females ages between 10 and 55. This is often insufficient. Period pads tend to be the preferred period product for Cuban women; thus, low national production rates and high import prices on the black-market spell trouble for people who menstruate.

Additionally, access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in Cuba contributes to this period of poverty. Oftentimes, women and people who menstruate are not able to maintain good levels of personal hygiene during their periods and do not have enough sanitary products. Water shortages and scarcity are common in Cuba, with outdated sanitation systems and corroded pipes causing water losses of 60% of supply. Around 27% of households “only receive water less than four days a week,” while 40% “receive it between four and six days.” Most Cubans do not have access to a reliable water supply in their homes.

In the wake of this acute lack of access and worsening period poverty in Cuba, as well as government silence over the issue, many education programs fighting period poverty have been launched. The focus of this has been on giving participants the skills and advice they need to overcome the barriers they face during their periods and end the shame surrounding menstruation.

Copas Para Cuba Initiative

Copas Para Cuba or Cups for Cuba was set up by La Mina and Tercer Paraíso as part of an international project to promote sustainable development initiatives. This scheme organized menstrual health workshops to combat shame around periods and the lack of knowledge surrounding the use of menstrual cups, highlighting the benefits of using them over more traditional sanitary products. There is also a great emphasis on emotional, physical and reproductive health, with these workshops providing an inclusive and safe environment for women to come together and have an open dialogue.

Free menstrual cups are distributed during these sessions, which help widen access to these costly products in Cuba. Since the launch of Copas Para Cuba in 2021, 37 women have become ambassadors for the initiative, “70 gatherings have been organized and roughly 1,300 cups have been delivered to women and girls.” This will have a significant impact on improving period poverty on the island, with thousands of women now having access to a period product that is reliable, safe and hygienic.

This initiative will also help reduce low school attendance among menstruating girls, as many will now feel secure attending school during their periods. This is an excellent example of an education program addressing period poverty in Cuba. It combines educational workshops, the distribution of period products and female empowerment to create a successful, multifaceted approach to a complex social issue.

Cuba Positive Periods Program

The Cuba Positive Periods Program or Iniciativa Duenas was organized by the Steve Sinnott Foundation and led by Norma Guillard, Naima Guillard and Rosaida Ochoa Soto. This scheme aims to train Cuban women to make their own reusable, long-lasting and sustainable period pads. This initiative was conducted online and women from various political and interest groups participated. It “facilitated a space for conversations about how to make their reusable period pads and menstrual health for young people.”

The project also emphasized the benefits of these products for older adults, especially those recovering from surgery or with bladder issues. Much of this learning took place through WhatsApp, harnessing the power of technology to reach a wider audience. Given the restricted access and fluctuating availability of disposable sanitary towels in Cuba, arming those who menstruate with the skills to be able to make their own is another novel strategy to reduce the impacts of period poverty.

Care International Workshops

Similarly, Care International organizes workshops to answer questions and queries about using menstrual cups, hoping the participants would share this information with thousands of other women after the meetings. It encourages using sustainable, reusable female hygiene products, menstrual cups, period underwear and reusable pads. Great emphasis is placed on respect for women, how all bodies are different and how this influences the suitability of certain period products for some people.

Recently, 100 women leaders and activists met in one of CARE International’s workshops in Matanzas and Pinar del Río provinces. By emphasizing the importance of grassroots organizations, “CARE is helping to increase women’s participation in different social spaces and promote respect for the rights of women and minorities.”

Conclusion

Education programs fighting period poverty are a very effective tool in Cuba, where period products are scarce, rationed and very expensive on the black market. Novel approaches are necessary so that people who menstruate can continue to live as usual while maintaining good personal hygiene. Movements and initiatives like Copas Para Cuba, Iniciativa Duenas and Care International workshops have opened Cubans’ minds to alternative approaches and made more sustainable and reliable products like menstrual cups more accessible.

They have effectively attempted to tape over the gaping holes left by the public health service’s refusal to address the issue of period poverty. However, there is still much left to do. Government-level support could significantly address this issue at a structural level. Such aid could prevent poor school attendance among girls during their periods and improve personal hygiene, especially during water shortages.

– Ciara Howard

Ciara is based in Brighton, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Organizations Fighting Cuba’s Food Shortages

Cuba’s Food ShortagesCubans are now struggling more than ever to put food on the table, with 12.8% of the population failing to consume their daily calorie intake in 2023 and 37.8% categorized as “food insecure.” Only 15% of the population has the economic means to justify eating three meals a day. This was in the context of great economic turmoil last year, with a 30% inflation rate, a 2% fall in gross domestic product (GDP) and limited foreign currency making it almost impossible for the government to import products. This presented a grave problem, given that, at that moment, the subsidized food packages provided by the government consisted almost entirely of imports. Cuba’s food shortages remain the main concern among the population, ranking higher than topics such as energy blackouts and wages.

How Has the Cuban Government Responded?

The Cuban government rationing system of basic foodstuff has been in operation since the early ’60s to protect against U.S. sanctions. However, due to recent struggles to import food products, rations have been reduced, with bread allocation reducing 25% to just 60 grams. The authorities also proposed further price controls on some essential products to keep prices low.

However, it was warned that this would worsen food shortages, with businesses threatening to stop trading under the new rules. Thus, Cuba was forced to ask the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) for help, as the government could not distribute flour and subsidized milk to children younger than 7.

WFP

Using food programs to foster peace and stability, the WFP is one of the main organizations fighting Cuba’s food shortages through school feeding schemes, agricultural support and disaster responses. These initiatives have had a massive scope, with the organization having helped more than “760,000 people with direct assistance and indirectly benefited 30,700 people with assets, capacity and services as well as 910,000 people through national policies and [programs].”

The WFP has achieved this through short-term solutions like food distribution and by emphasizing supporting Cuba in providing such services by itself. It worked on sustainable, locally led projects alongside farmers, linking them with school feeding schemes. Additionally, the WFP facilitated the “distribution of rice, grains, vegetable oil, micronutrient powders, blended fortified foods and milk to support authorities’ pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2).”

Oxfam

Oxfam launched its “No More Blockade” campaign, arguing that this is key to fighting Cuba’s food shortages and political factors. The organization called on the Biden administration to recommit to normalizing relations between the U.S. and Cuba. It encouraged the Cuban government to adhere to its constitutional commitment to rights and freedoms and diversify its economy.

Oxfam also calls on the international community to advocate for more cooperation within Latin America and for the European Union to influence the U.S. government.

Care International

Having worked in Cuba since the late ’90s, supporting victims of food insecurity, CARE has carried out invaluable projects in Cuba, focusing on ensuring gender equality. In 2019, CARE International supported “farmers facing the effects of climate [instability] to restore lands and crops, oversaw quality of life and safe water programs in vulnerable communities and worked on sustainable agriculture.” Recently, CARE International, alongside local actors, provided aid and shelter during the energy blackouts.

Barnabas Aid and Give2Cuba

Give2Cuba and Barnabas Aid and are two more organizations fighting Cuba’s food shortages by providing aid. Barnabas Aid uses Christian church networks to distribute food products to the vulnerable, with its “food.gives” projects delivering containers of dried and dehydrated food products to the island.

Similarly, Give2Cuba, set up by Cuban Americans in 2010, provides food, medicine and cash and facilitates larger companies’ contribution to alleviating food scarcity in Cuba. Give2Cuba Houston carries out humanitarian relief trips, which “provides direct help to families, as well as work with trusted community leaders (such as clergy) to identify and reach the elderly and other vulnerable people.”

In 2023, the group raised $3000 for a feeding program in Matanzas, providing meals for 15 older adults. The organization hopes to fundraise $10,000 in 2025 to allow another 30 pensioners to be fed. Like Barnabas Aid, Give2Cuba has also coordinated a quick response to the blackouts and Storm Oscar, with teams sent to Cuba in the aftermath.

Final Note

The work of these international organizations fighting Cuba’s food shortages has been widespread and overwhelmingly positive. The focus of institutions like the WFP and Oxfam on long-term solutions so that Cuba can become self-sufficient by improving its agricultural productivity and building infrastructure is very important.

Although short-term aid and solutions are necessary and alleviate suffering, it is a focus on the future and dealing with these issues from the root that may bring Cuba closer to ending its fight against hunger and food insecurity. A combination of different approaches, alongside a more comprehensive governmental approach, will hopefully ease this food insecurity issue.

– Ciara Howard

Ciara is based in Brighton, UK and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Disability and Poverty in Cuba

Disability and Poverty in CubaCuba is a developing country in the Caribbean, with a population of 10.9. Cuba’s economy relied heavily on the Soviet Union, which started in 1960. However, during the early ’90s, the Soviet Union fell and Cuba’s economy suffered. Since 2018, the Cuban economy has been severely impacted by international blockade and sanctions. The COVID-19 pandemic has also hindered Cuba’s economic growth. In 2020, Cuban gross domestic product (GDP) decreased by 11% and only increased by 0.4% in 2021 and 1.8% in 2022. Moreover, Cuba’s economy has recently experienced inflation and the population has had limited access to essential resources like food and health products. The nation’s fuel supply has also struggled to meet the needs of citizens, causing periodic energy and transport crises.

In 2023, more than 360,000 people with disabilities lived in Cuba and they were all impacted by these economic challenges. The Data Disability Initiative published that women with physical disabilities experience a higher level of multidimensional poverty than women without physical disabilities. Despite these challenges, the Cuban government has made efforts to develop education policies that better cater to children with disabilities. International organizations like the United Nations Children’s Fund and Humanity and Inclusion (HI) have been helping improve the quality of life for people living with disability and poverty in Cuba.

Challenges

According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Cuba has not established its domestic laws in agreement with the United Nations (U.N.) Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities, nor has the nation’s government developed effective disability rights policies related to accessibility, legal capacity, education, independent living and employment. As of 2022, Cuban law suggests that public buildings, health services and transportation services should all accommodate people with disabilities. However, the government generally has not enforced this law effectively, resulting in the needed facilities and accommodations being rarely available for people with disabilities.

According to the 2019 Multiple Indicator Survey 6 results, 10% of women ages 18 to 49 with much functional difficulty have less than primary school as their highest level of education received, while only 1% of women with some functional difficulty and 0% of women with no functional difficulty have less than primary school as their highest level of schooling. Significant differences exist in the number of women with adequate housing and asset ownership. Women who have some functional difficulty are less likely to have these resources and women with much difficulty have even lower rates of access to these resources. Women with some functional difficulty and much functional difficulty were also more likely to report being discriminated against or harassed based on any ground, with rates of 3% and 15%, respectively.

Government Support for Education

Cuba’s 2012 Population and Housing Census took note of 41,374 children and adolescents with disabilities and many live in rural areas. About 57% of this total are visually impaired children and children with intellectual disabilities. Cuba has 355 schools for children who have disabilities, with 33,975 children and students enrolled in these schools in the 2017-2018 school year. Also, 1,978 mainstream schools at all levels educate 11,037 students with disabilities.

Education is state policy in Cuba. The government puts much effort into financing education, resulting in residual illiteracy of 0.2%, an average of 10.1 years of schooling and 10% of the GDP being used for school funding since 2004. Cuba has special and inclusive schools that work together to educate children with disabilities. In 2019, out of 10,598 schools, 342 (3%) of the total schools in the country were special schools. Special schools use the same teaching materials and curriculum as mainstream schools. However, they are flexible so that they can adapt to the specific needs of each student.

Special schools were established as resource centers with exit strategies that help students with disabilities smoothly transition into mainstream schools. In 2019, the number of students attending different centers was 102,477 in mainstream schools, 33,639 in special schools, 1,070 in technical and professional education and 180 in higher education. According to data collected from UNICEF Cuba in 2020, 15% of the students who attended trade schools were graduates of special schools.

Nonprofit Aid

HI is an international nonprofit that focuses on helping vulnerable populations, especially people with disabilities. It has been working in 60 countries around the world, including Cuba. This nonprofit helps Cubans with disabilities, especially women and young people, find employment by giving them kits with the necessary tools to become economically self-sufficient. HI’s teams also raise awareness about disability issues for local employers and help develop new adapted activities and jobs. In 2016, HI’s project helped more than 1,400 people with disabilities in Cuba. The organization’s project partnered with 800 health professionals and community officers, further assisting people with a disability and reducing poverty in Cuba.

Similarly, in 2019, UNICEF helped train 548 specialists across all 16 provinces of Cuba to provide the necessary care for students with disabilities who attend mainstream schools. UNICEF has been working on improving the capacities of teachers, principals and families in rural areas to ensure that students with intellectual disabilities attending mainstream schools receive the educational services they need. UNICEF also uses a communication-for-development strategy to encourage social and academic inclusion for children with disabilities.

Summary

While there seems to be further work to do to strengthen the country’s policies on transportation, employment and independent living for people with disabilities, progress has been made in addressing the needs of children and adolescents through institutions like special schools. International organizations like UNICEF and HI have also been helping to fill the gaps in providing the resources citizens living with disability and poverty in Cuba need.

UNICEF is improving education for children with disabilities by training teachers, principals and families in rural areas to understand intellectual disabilities better. HI’s program in Cuba supports people with disabilities by helping them find employment and providing materials for economic self-sufficiency. Overall, progress is being made in supporting people with disabilities in Cuba and continued support will be crucial for sustaining this advancement.

– Elisabeth Nwasokwa

Elisabeth is based in Bellerose, NY, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash

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Everything You Need To Know about Hunger in Cuba

Hunger in CubaA 2023 Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH) report reveals that 78% of Cubans have stopped eating some meals, indicating undeniable hunger in Cuba. With nine in 10 Cubans barely earning “enough to survive,” and 62% struggling to buy essential goods. The Food Monitor Program and community projects address the crisis globally and provide on-the-ground support.

Ration Books to Market Choices

Since the 1962 Cuban Revolution, the government has subsidized a universal monthly food supply, which it distributes through libreta, a ration book. From 2021, more than 11 million Cubans are registered for this vital support.

Over time, the libreta has faced reductions, sustaining 85% of individuals in the OCDH report for 10 days or less. In December 2023, President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed intentions to phase out staples like rice and sugar, redirecting support to the most vulnerable.

Other options include Freely Convertible Currency (MLC) stores, agricultural markets or the black market. In MLC stores, transactions must occur in foreign currency. The aim is to capture remittances from abroad to pay for food imports. However, this practice has widened the disparity between those with access to remittances — either from relatives abroad or through work in the COVID-19-impacted tourism sector — and those solely reliant on local salaries.

Nonetheless, MLC stores face shortages. The majority turn to the competitively priced black market, usually associated with illegal activity. In Cuba, this is where street vendors address the gaps in food and other household goods.

The Economic Impact

“The Special Period” economic crisis followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, a significant supporter of Cuba. Historically, Cuba’s agricultural sector relied on large-scale monocultures, for the exports of sugar, tobacco, citrus and coffee. The Soviet Union supported Cuba by purchasing a share of its sugar and importing 63% of its food. After the Soviet Union’s collapse, an economic downturn resulted in drastic reductions in state-subsidized rations and triggered widespread hunger in Cuba.

To address this, Cuba imported rice from Vietnam and sold sugar to China. Subsequently, Cuba became heavily reliant on imports, constituting between 70% and 80% of its food supply in 2024, with minimal efforts to boost domestic production.

In 2024, the economy is in a decline reminiscent of the suffering, scarcity and hunger in Cuba during The Special Period. Sugar cane production in Cuba dropped from 816,000 tons in 2020-21 to 480,000 tons in 2021-22, with an overall 35% decrease between 2019 and 2023.

As of October 2023, food imports decreased to $1.6 billion. The current scenario reveals vulnerabilities in Cuba’s food security, as political relations and heavy reliance on food imports, including those for animals, expose the entire system to geopolitical challenges. Cuba is not producing or importing.

Substitutions, Shortages and Shifts in Daily Diet

The Food Monitor Program provides an analysis of the quality and availability of essential items in the Cuban diet, offering insight into the current culinary landscape of May-June 2023.

The government usually prioritizes milk for vulnerable groups, but it was recently removed from the libreta and replaced with concentrated milk powder. The increased price of beans has led households to consider excluding this vital protein. Coffee, integral to Cuban identity, has experienced setbacks in production. Rice, typically consumed in two meals a day and featured in various Cuban dishes, is experiencing shortages.

Many beloved food items in the daily Cuban diet have been substituted with cheaper but less nutritious alternatives. Sometimes, bread is used as a substitute for rice during lunch and dinner. However, the product has undergone substitutions with unpopular alternative flour like corn, pumpkin and sweet potato, according to the Food Monitor Program. Eggs, valued for versatility, affordability and availability, offer a protein alternative to meat but have become as inaccessible as pork or fish. The short supply of sunflower oil and other fats has impacted the ability to cook.

Resilience Amid Shortages

In response to the crises, individual and community-based mutual aid initiatives like the Quisicuaba project, a community-led soup kitchen in central Havana registered in 1992, are feeding the hungry. With the support of on-island cultural and community groups, foreign donations and private gifts, Quisicuaba Cabildo served breakfast, lunch and dinner daily to 4,000 people in January 2024.

The group’s leader emphasizes inclusivity: “We feed anyone who arrives … there are no conditions. We don’t ask how much they make, and we charge nothing,” Reuters reports. The project also provides a delivery service to those who cannot reach the kitchen.

Numerous smaller-scale projects and individual acts of aid have sprouted across the country. The Breath Of Life Humanitarian Project delivered Christmas dinners to 44 homeless individuals in Havana in 2023. Similarly, comedian Limay Blanco generously offered dinner to more than 300 people. In Guanabo, a bar owner organized a New Year’s Eve dinner for 180 low-income elderly and children.

These actions showcase the resilience and determination of Cuban communities in the face of food shortages. Acknowledging the vital need for global support in tackling hunger in Cuba, the demonstrated adaptability, solidarity, and resilience among Cubans offer compelling examples of collaborative assistance for shaping a more sustainable and food-secure future.

– Ben Miley-Smith
Photo: Flickr

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USAID Programs in Cuba

USAID Programs in CubaCuba is home to a tropical paradise, mountains to the southeast, but mostly flat landscapes. The United States (U.S.) and Cuba, which reside on the same side of the globe, continue to experience difficulties due to U.S. sanctions set by President John F. Kennedy in February 1962. Currently, three USAID programs in Cuba work to reduce poverty amid continued sanctions, the recent pandemic and stifled support from Cuba’s government.

Grassroots Groups Stepping In

Cubans, unsatisfied with the response from their government, led grassroots movements after a tornado ripped through Havana in 2019. These grassroots movements leveraged social media to reach out to Cuban donors and donors abroad. After one day, these movements received “over 20,000 Cuban pesos ($833), two packs of medicines, and more than 100 masks.” Cuba’s government could not step in to assist its citizens. As a result, its citizens created their USAID program in Cuba. 

Through solidarity, Cuban citizens receive much-needed aid through social media channels and money used to purchase food and medicine. Addressing the more severe issues requires external funds from foreign countries since small donations are a short-term solution. The U.S. is one of many other nations that work to solve root issues of hunger, poverty and malnutrition. The nation hopes their actions will result in prosperity and develop each other’s economy.

USAID’s Ongoing Efforts

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) meshed existing foreign assistance organizations and programs on November 3, 1961, to consolidate resources and agencies. While the U.S. has set sanctions toward Cuba, USAID provides continuous humanitarian assistance through “nutritional food items, vitamins, over-the-counter medicines, and toiletries.” The Biden administration announced $2 million in funding for emergency relief in addition to USAID’s continued assistance.

This funding will assist Cuba in addressing the lack of necessities, especially tobacco production. Estimates show that nearly “9,000 hectares of crops [bananas, cassava, rice and corn] were affected, leading to malnourishment and a lack of diverse food. The country’s government has received criticism after suppressing political activism instead of listening to the demands of its citizens. The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) recognizes the need for U.S. humanitarian aid and international aid from other nations.

While the U.S. continues its sanctions toward Cuba, USAID programs in Cuba are working to create stability and cooperation with other nations as well. Another organization is Sweden’s government agency, Sida, which “strives to reduce poverty and oppression around the world.”

Sweden’s Ongoing Efforts

Based on the 2022 analytics provided by Openaid, Sweden has contributed around $3.23 million, with most funds going to various projects and programs in the country. The funding goes to three different sectors in Cuba, in order of importance: human rights, gender equality and democratic development; environment, climate and sustainable use of natural resources; and better living conditions and livelihoods. Spending is focused on three areas, the two most important to reducing global poverty being the second and third items.

With Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE) cooperation, Sida educates municipalities and smallholders in biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture. Currently, Cuba dominates large-scale monocultures, where only one crop is grown. “Half of the farmland is used to grow sugar cane,” which impairs biodiversity and, in the event of natural disasters, destroys food security and a more varied diet.

Most of the food Cubans consume is imported, with estimates showing up to 80%. In 2022, Cuba made great efforts to recover from its high dependence on food imports, receiving aid through the World Food Programme (WPF) and seeing a slight economic recovery. The WFP and Sida work to reduce the losses from natural disasters. The organization educates, assists and provides tools to farmers to minimize Cuban food insecurities, increase the yields from diverse crops and improve the quality to ensure a varied diet. Farmers, women and the youth are working with USAID programs in Cuba to provide education and methodology persists through natural disasters, poverty and a repressive government. 

Ongoing Solutions

Despite Cuba’s ongoing obstacles, various groups and organizations are stepping in to provide the humanitarian aid it desperately needs. From Openaid, the three sectors that receive the majority of funding are government and civil society, general environmental protection, and banking and financial services. The other sectors, like water supply and sanitation, receive about $12,000 or around .38% of the $3.23 million. 

There is a need for systems and infrastructure to continue developing to ensure women and youth receive proper nourishment. Grassroots movements continue to receive primary and minor donations for medicine. USAID provides further funding to educate farmers on appropriate maintenance, with other nations providing additional assistance. The inclusion of social media further encourages people from all over to draw awareness to global issues and help enact change to reduce extreme poverty.

– Luis Lujano-Garcia
Photo: Unsplash

HIV/AIDS in Cuba

HIV/AIDS in CubaAccording to UNAIDS, in 2022, 42,000 people lived with HIV/AIDS in Cuba. Although the disease has claimed many lives since its discovery and initial cases, the threat has reduced significantly through Cuba’s handling of the pandemic. “Cuba’s national AIDS program is the most successful in the world based solely on statistics,” according to a research article by Sarah Z Hoffman published in 2004.

The First Cases

Cuba noted its first case of HIV/AIDS in 1985 — a heterosexual male returning from travel abroad. The country’s leading infectious disease specialist, Dr. Jorge Perez, spearheaded a drastic approach to contain the spread by destroying all foreign-sourced blood products while also commissioning a National AIDS foundation before the first reported death of AIDS in 1986. Cuba’s strategy continued to differ drastically from many countries, with many of its protection regulations already being sanctioned and declared lawful through existing health regulations. Decree-Law 54 for example, stated for the prevention of such diseases, individuals suspected of suffering from a communicable disease would be subject to immediate isolation and quarantine from the public and potentially infected individuals would need to suspend or limit their daily activities.

The Strategy

While many view Cuba’s approach to the pandemic as barbaric or controversial, Cuba’s stratagem has been the most effective in the world based on statistics. The United States caseload of HIV/AIDS infected persons was 10 times higher than Cuba, which had reported 1,177 back in 2003. In July 1983, the Ministry of Public Health in Cuba published an article stating that the Ministry itself would oversee the determination of which diseases pose a risk to the community as well as the adoption of diagnostic and preventative measures to contain the spread of the outbreak, reduce transmission and present options for mandated treatment.

From 1986 to 1994, the Cuban Government utilized these regulations to lawfully quarantine HIV-positive individuals in sanatoriums built and maintained by the Ministry. While these facilities were isolated from the general populace, the sanatoriums provided food, shelter, medication and education on the dangers of contraction and the importance of honesty, healthy behaviors and safe sex practices. The Cuban government rescinded this law in 1994 and relaxed mandated isolation protocols. However, the government required persons testing positive for HIV/AIDS to stay in a sanatorium for approximately eight weeks to receive thorough education on the disease. The government permitted people who completed their eight-week programs to leave and allocated a general care physician to help each person manage their conditions.

Today

Every year, a total of 1.4 million mothers living with HIV become pregnant. While untreated, they risk a 15-45% chance of transmitting the infection to their infant during pregnancy, labor or breastfeeding. Since 201, the WHO (World Health Organization) has partnered with Cuba and other countries in the Americas to implement a region-wide system that will virtually eliminate mother-son transmission of HIV and syphilis. This effort is achieved through rigorous HIV testing for both pregnant women and their partners. Cuba’s nationwide health care access makes this easy for mothers who may test positive to receive treatment and education to continue their daily routines without fear or transmission.

According to PAHO Director Dr. Carissa Etienne; “Cuba’s success demonstrates that universal access and universal health coverage are feasible and indeed the keys to success. Even against challenges as daunting as HIV.” In 2014, The WHO and supporting partners published an article titled “Guidance on global process and criteria for validation of elimination of Mother to Son transmission of HIV and Syphilis,” which outlined the requirements and the specificity of different indicators each country needed to meet to validate such elimination.

The Lesson

While many have critiqued Cuba’s HIV/AIDS management strategy, Cuba’s stratagem has been unlike any other implemented across the globe, with almost unprecedented results. As of today, only one sanatorium remains open. With quarantine and isolation laws no longer in place, the remaining sanatorium has become a hospital and a clinic for those who seek extensive HIV treatment by their own choice. With global health care, worldwide attention and universal access to everyone, the world can win the fight against HIV/AIDS. Everyone can be helped and everyone can be treated, regardless of financial means or societal status.

– Anthony Durham
Photo: Flickr

The Five Main Causes of Poverty in Cuba

Causes of Poverty in CubaCuba is a unique island nation whose economy has been the subject of contention for decades. It is also a poor country that struggles to provide housing, transportation and other necessities. The Borgen Project outlines five of the main causes of poverty in Cuba.

Top 5 Causes of Poverty in Cuba

1. U.S. Embargo

Following Fidel Castro’s assumption of power in 1961, the U.S. imposed an embargo that abruptly deprived Cuban exporters of the recipient of 95 percent of their exports. Since then, the embargo has strictly restricted Cubans’ access to American products, contributing to shortages of everything from food, to electronics and internet access. The legislation of the embargo even includes sanctions against other countries that do business with Cuba. In this way, the embargo significantly limits Cubans’ access to products, partners and the means to climb out of poverty.

2. Agriculture

Like many developing countries across the world, Cuba has historically depended on agriculture as its main industry. Agricultural dependence often limits countries’ abilities to develop infrastructure and establish economic stability. Until the 1990s, the primary economic driver in Cuba was sugar. Because of this historical reliance on a single crop, Cuba has been ill-prepared to deal with changes in the global economy and to diversify beyond its agricultural roots.

3. Allies

For more than thirty years, Cuba was allied with the former Soviet Union. This relationship created special trading conditions which benefited the Cuban economy. Cuba traded sugar to the USSR for much-needed goods and economic support; but when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, Cuba experienced a 35 percent contraction of its GDP. In a country of only 11 million people, this financial crash was more extreme than the American Great Depression. Cuba has yet to fully recover from this economic blow.

4. Dependence

Cuba’s troubles with the USSR are part of a larger pattern of centralization. For the majority of the country’s history, Cuba depended on a single trading partner for over 90 percent of its foreign trade. Cuba’s exclusive relationship with first the U.S. and then the USSR caused big problems when these partners suddenly disappeared. Cuba also traditionally focused industrially on sugar production; this centralization further limits Cuba’s ability to find sources of revenue to meet the country’s needs.

5. Social Services

Cubans enjoy free health care and education, as well as subsidized housing and food rations. These social benefits form a safety net rare to the developing world and even many developed countries; but these social services come at a cost. Spending on social services can limit the amount of money available to the Cuban government and the Cuban people especially in times of economic crisis.

The causes of poverty in Cuba are similar to those in the rest of Latin America, but Cuba’s unique position also presents the country with some unique challenges. Still, thanks to Cuba’s vigorous social services, many Cubans can count themselves lucky compared to other impoverished nations.

– Bret Anne Serbin

Photo: Pixabay

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Progress Made on Reducing Poverty in Cuba

Poverty in CubaThe global financial crisis hurt first world nations as well as developing countries. As one example of this, poverty in Cuba has been affected. The country is doing better than some Latin American countries, but the government is struggling to maintain services such as free healthcare and education.

Cuba opened up its economy as a result of the global financial crisis, but it is worse off as a result. Fifteen percent of the population is living in poverty in Cuba. This most recent data is at least 10 years old, though, and more recent numbers are not available.

Because of the USSR’s collapse, Cuba was left to fend for itself. This has led to a restructuring of how goods and services are distributed. For example, instead of a universal food supply in the form of food stamps for everyone, Cuba is targeting the most vulnerable.

One problem Cuba faces is people living longer, despite the availability of junk food. It is estimated that the population of those over 65 in Cuba will double in the next 20 years. That will swell the number of people seeking healthcare as well as the costs associated as such.

About 40 percent of Cubans fall within the “middle class,” which is broadly defined, according to the Brookings Institute, but the average take-home pay for Cubans is $20 per month, or $0.66 per day, based on a 30-day month.

Despite this, 90 percent of Cubans own their own homes. Most Cubans can buy and sell property, open small businesses, have cell phones and form cooperatives both on and off farms.” President Raul Castro, who encourages the high ownership rate, is trying to “preserve socialism while introducing new market-based mechanisms,” according to Ted Piccone, a senior fellow at the Brooking Institute who specializes in International Order and Strategy and Latin American Initiatives.

Just as towns that concentrate and depend on one industry or business, with the risk of seeing that business close or fail, Cuba replaced dependence on the United States with dependence on the former USSR, only to see it fall. Castro inherited a Cuba that was dependent on sugar production, but with the deep socio-economic and racial scars of slavery. Some believe the revolution interrupted capitalistic growth, while others say it was “a precondition to resolving the contradictions obstructing development by ending Cuba’s subjugation to the needs of U.S. capitalism.”

Adding to the problem was Batista’s taking millions with him as he fled. This left Cuba without much of the money it needed to rebuild.

Despite the country’s economic problems, prices are kept low across the board, with some services still coming free, such as education and healthcare. Those who rent do not pay more than four percent of their income.  Cuba’s infant mortality rate is 4.5 per 1,000 live births, placing it among the rates in first-world countries, even ranking above the United States. The wealth indicators here are not necessarily material goods but instead are reflected in the quality of life. This quality does come at a price, though: Cuba’s infrastructure is in very poor shape.

Despite Cuba’s economic problems, its medical triumphs show how, despite the embargo by the United States, a country can survive if it looks for help elsewhere, and even become a leader. By investing in people and reaching out, poverty in Cuba and other countries like it can be reduced, and developing nations can make their mark on the world and life for its citizens better as time goes on.

– Gloria Diaz

Photo: Pixabay

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U.S.-Cuba Relations: A New Future for Cuba

US and Cuban Relations: A New Future for Cuba
After 54 years of severed diplomatic ties, the United States and Cuba, once bitter Cold War enemies, demonstrated their newfound diplomacy by reopening each other’s embassies this past Monday.

It is the most concrete example of the diplomatic thaw since President Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro announced last December that U.S.-Cuba relations would be restored.

In an interview with MSNBC, President Obama said he believed that Proclamation 3447, the embargo signed by President Kennedy in 1962, has served neither people well and that it was time to go in a new direction.

Although Congress has to pass legislation to formally end the embargo — something that will be very challenging to do — Obama is using his executive power to ease travel and trade restrictions.

For the first time in half a century, the United States is able to transparently see the type of living conditions Cubans have been in for the past 50 years.

There is poverty in Cuba, but it’s not traditional poverty. When Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, the government became Socialist and then reformed to become the Communist Party of Cuba. During this time, all aspects of Cuban society became nationalized. For the past 50 years, Cubans have enjoyed access to a free healthcare system that has produced a very healthy populace.

Today, Cuba ranks 61st in the world for life expectancy. Its citizens live roughly to the same age as their American counterparts. This statistic is even more surprising considering that per capita GDP is almost ten times higher in the United States than in Cuba.

Economists have coined this phenomenon the ‘Cuban Health Paradox.’ Normally, countries with low per capita GDPs also have low life expectancies.

Cubans also have access to free education and the government has tried to make housing and nutrition a priority for its citizens.

Based on government numbers, Cuba ranks 48th in the world for poverty. The island nation is one of the least impoverished countries in the developing world

Although 15 percent of the population still lives in extreme poverty, most of the country is poor. Reports of living conditions are less than ideal. The Cuban peso, which hasn’t been convertible since the revolution, has suffered from inflation. In U.S. dollars, the average Cuban worker earns $17 to $30 a month.

Cuba also scores at the bottom of Freedom House’s annual report on civil and political freedoms. Freedom House describes Cuba as ‘not free.’

Since the Castro family has been in power, Cuba has been relatively isolated. This has led to the country’s lack of overall wealth. The fall of the Soviet Union worsened matters as the country lost the financial support it used to have from Moscow.

The country has persisted; however, this has usually caused Cuba to become more self-reliant, therefore poorer.

Recently, Cuba has tried to reform its economic system to open up investment to other governments and private companies to accelerate development.

The United States re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba presents a great opportunity for this to happen. The United States can expand trade markets to one of its closest neighbors, while the influx of capital will raise living standards in Cuba.

– Kevin Meyers

Sources: Procon, Geoba, MSNBC, New York Times, Poverties, Reuters, Rural Poverty Portal
Photo: USA Today

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Poverty in Cuba

poverty in CubaThe largest island of the West Indies, Cuba, has often been scrutinized for its turbulent political history. A variety of factors have come into play to make the island nation one of the poorest countries in the world, with a significant portion of the population living in poverty. Such a statistic goes hand-in-hand with Cuba’s unfortunate reputation of struggling to provide housing, healthcare and other necessities. Here are the top five facts about how many people are adapting to living in poverty in Cuba.

1. Agriculture and Climate: Much of Cuba’s economy has heavily depended on the farming of specific crops such as sugarcane, one of the main export products used in trade. In addition, a significant portion of industrial work goes into processing much of these crops for commercial use, such as turning sugarcane into sugar crystals. In total, agriculture and industrial production of these goods make up nearly 30% of Cuba’s GDP. Unfortunately, this dependence on agriculture imposes limitations on Cuba’s ability to make great advances in infrastructure and maintain economic stability. The situation is only made worse due to the tropical climate and prevalence of hurricanes during the rainy season, which can cause widespread damage, suffering and loss of life. When Hurricane Irma struck in 2017, the cost of damages reached well over 13.6 billion pesos (more than $628 million). Over 7,400 acres of plantation farmland were destroyed, causing a brief food shortage and exacerbating poverty in Cuba.

2. The United States Embargo: After the rise of Fidel Castro in 1961, the United States placed an embargo that suddenly deprived Cuban exporters of a significant majority of their exports. Since that point, the embargo continues to restrict trade and access to American products. As a consequence, many people experience a lack of daily necessities from electronics to food. The embargo even includes sanctions against other nations trading with Cuba. The economic restrictions imposed by the embargo have disastrous consequences for those living in poverty in Cuba as they lack daily resources. As of now, there doesn’t seem to be any immediate action towards removing the embargo, but an increase in tourism (especially from Americans) can provide the first step in easing relations between the two countries.

3. Jobs and Employment: Cuba has a very low unemployment rate compared to other nations of similar economic standing, resting at 1.7%. However, a significant portion of working families in Cuba are at risk of income poverty, with an individual having a 41.7% chance of having income problems. These people work in jobs for an average salary lower than that of the national average. Given that the typical family consists of about three people, this results in nearly four million individuals who live in households at risk of income poverty. Moreover, the workforce of Cuba is further destabilized due to the rampant rise of an aging population. Over 20% of the Cuban population is above the age of 60, which also means that fertility rates are low due to these demographic imbalances. So for the average family living in poverty in Cuba, finding work can be difficult. On the bright side, charities like the Caribbean Movement Trust can aid such families in becoming more self-sufficient and maintaining a steady income through education, training and healthcare projects.

4. Housing and Energy: The Cuban government closely oversees transactions and logistics involving real estate and homeownership. It is incredibly difficult to change one’s place of residence as the government imposed a system of enforced home exchanges where homeownership is typically seen as collective ownership, which is controlled by the state. The situation is worse for those living in poverty in Cuba, as they cannot afford constant change and are often living without clean water, gas and electricity. However, international charities such as the Nextenergy Foundation are working toward providing renewable energy to contribute to poverty alleviation in many countries, including Cuba.

5. Healthcare and Education: Despite the many difficulties in their lives, Cubans are able to enjoy free health care and education at all levels. The government controls the distribution of goods such as foodstuffs and medications and has mandated that physical education and sports be integrated into Cuban education in order to promote healthy living. Even for those who live in poverty in Cuba, primary education for children between ages six and 11 is compulsory. As a result, a significant majority of the Cuban population is literate. In addition, women are guaranteed equal educational opportunities and account for more than half of all university graduates.

Cuba’s environment, trade restrictions and general lack of everyday necessities place many of its citizens in poverty. Thankfully, many organizations are working to spread awareness and to donate money and resources to those living in Cuba. Over time and through the efforts of many people, it is possible to speed up the process of development to help this country in need of aid.

– Aditya Daita
Photo: Pixabay