Cuba Salud 2025: Africa and Latin America Recognize Cuba as a Benchmark in Health and International Cooperation
The Cuba Salud 2025 convention highlighted Cuba’s global leadership in public health and medical cooperation. African and Latin American leaders praised Cuba’s solidarity, universal healthcare model, and historic medical missions. Discussions emphasized South-South collaboration, chronic disease control, and resilient health systems—reaffirming Cuba’s role in advancing global health equity.
The V International Convention Cuba Salud 2025 became a privileged space for representatives from Africa and Latin America to highlight Cuba’s fundamental role as a global benchmark in public health and international medical cooperation. In their speeches, ministers and experts emphasized the solidarity, commitment, and effectiveness of the Cuban healthcare system, as well as the importance of strengthening South-South collaboration to address current and future health challenges.
Haiti: Cuba, a Model for Public Health
Bertrand Sinal, Haiti’s Minister of Public Health, expressed deep gratitude toward Cuba for its historic contribution to health in his country and the region.
“Haiti continues to facilitate access to health services despite the critical challenges it faces. We appreciate the support of other countries, with special mention to the Cuban medical brigades and Cuba’s historic contribution in the field of health,” he stated.
Sinal highlighted that Cuba’s healthcare system represents a model for universal health access, citing as an example the low infant mortality rates achieved by Cuba, which serve as inspiration for other countries. He also emphasized that the Cuban paradigm invites reflection on universality and equity in health services, essential elements for building resilient health systems.
Africa: Progress and Challenges in Public Health with Cuban Support
In the panel dedicated to public policies for controlling chronic diseases, Celso Da Nascimento Matos, Minister of Health of São Tomé and Príncipe, shared the progress made in his country as well as the challenges that remain. Matos underscored the importance of Cuban cooperation, particularly through medical missions that have provided constant support in primary care and preparedness for new epidemics.
Meanwhile, Aaron Motsoaledi, South Africa’s Minister of Health, emphasized the need for robust public policies to control chronic diseases, a challenge affecting much of the African continent. He highlighted progress made after the COVID-19 pandemic, such as a 20% reduction in tuberculosis cases thanks to mass screening programs, and decreased tobacco and alcohol consumption through awareness campaigns.
Motsoaledi also stressed the integration of mental health into national health policies and reaffirmed the commitment to building equitable and sustainable health systems, emphasizing the crucial role of international cooperation in addressing shared challenges.
The History of Cuban Medical Cooperation in Africa and Latin America
Cuban medical cooperation in these regions has a solid and internationally recognized trajectory. Since the 1960s, Cuba has sent thousands of healthcare professionals to countries such as Angola, Mozambique, Haiti, Venezuela, and Brazil, among others, to provide care in vulnerable areas and train local human resources.
Flagship programs like “Barrio Adentro” in Venezuela and “Mais Médicos” in Brazil exemplify this commitment. In Africa, Cuba has collaborated in campaigns against infectious diseases such as malaria and Ebola, in building healthcare infrastructure, and in training doctors and technicians in its institutions.
The interventions of African and Latin American representatives at Cuba Salud 2025 reaffirm Cuba’s leadership in public health and international cooperation. The history and concrete results of this collaboration demonstrate that Cuba’s healthcare system is a global benchmark, capable of addressing complex challenges and contributing to the well-being of millions worldwide. This convention was also a space to strengthen alliances and project new goals in universal and sustainable health.
This comprehensive and solidarity-driven vision continues to inspire Global South countries to work alongside Cuba, reaffirming that health is a universal right and a common good of humanity.
The shared commitment of Cuba is to continue strengthening resilient, inclusive, and sustainable health systems that guarantee universal access to quality services.
