Kochanova: co-operation with Cuba in the field of healthcare is very important for Belarus
It is very important for Belarus to liaise with Cuba in the field of healthcare, along the scientific, educational and pharmaceutical avenues – as stated by the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly, Natalya Kochanova, at today’s meeting with a delegation of the Republic of Cuba headed by Tania Margarita Cruz Hernandez, the First Deputy Minister of Public Health
Ms. Kochanova noted that Belarus and Cuba enjoy warm and friendly relations due to the established diplomatic ties and contacts at all levels, including friendly relations between the presidents of the two countries.
“We support each other, and the establishment of inter-parliamentary relations is very important for us. In recent time, they have become very active. I am happy with your visit also because the agreements were established at the end of last year; we then welcomed the Chairman of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba, and I met with the Ambassador to discuss – among other priority areas – the issue of healthcare,” the Chairperson of the Council of the Republic said, adding, “Your visit confirms that all our agreements are really being implemented quickly, and this is very important – especially at this difficult time, when sanctions are imposed on your country and Belarus. Meanwhile, we are not afraid of any sanctions, because there are countries which we are friends with, and our mutual interest confirms that there are absolutely no limits to our friendly relations in all directions in improvement and development.”
Ms. Kochanova added that quite a lot of agreements and memoranda have been signed in the healthcare system, as well as in general between Belarus and Cuba, “Actually, we are glad that a memorandum of co-operation and agreements have been signed in the sphere of health protection, and we are happy that the development of such co-operation between Belarus and Cuba has serious prospects. This is one of the main directions of our state's social policy, and Belarus’ President – our respected Aleksandr Grigorievich Lukashenko, and the Government pay the most serious attention to the development of the healthcare system in the republic. I know Cuba is doing the same – paying serous attention to its healthcare branch. This co-operation is very important to us – in the scientific, educational and pharmaceutical aspects.”
Noting that new challenges and threats are emerging in the healthcare system these days, as well as around the world, Ms. Kochanova said, “Infections such as COVID enabled us to once again assess what our country has. When I learnt that all children older than two are vaccinated against this infection in Cuba, we talked with Mr. Ambassador, and I am grateful that we have a Cuban vaccine now in Belarus. We are also developing our own vaccine, we have Russian and Chinese vaccines, and we also have a Cuban one. Our healthcare systems have worked very quickly, and I am thankful to you for that. We would very much appreciate the co-operation of our countries in the field of pharmacology. We hope you will see new prospects in the development of liaisons between our healthcare systems as a result of your visit.”
The meeting was also attended by senators Sergei Rachkov, Konstantin Drozdovsky and Oleg Rummo, Belarus’ First Deputy Healthcare Minister Yelena Krotkova, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cuba to Belarus Santiago Perez Benitez.
