Hospitals in Cuba to get £12k PPE gift from Welsh workers

CUBAN hospitals and medical staff fighting Covid are to benefit from a £12,000 donation from Welsh public service workers.

The money has been used to buy surplus medical personal protective equipment (PPE), which will be shipped to Havana from the UK today.

Healthcare employees, local government workers and other public service staff answered an appeal organised by Unison Cymru, working with Cymru Cuba.

The trade union acted because of a desperate shortage of medical supplies in the communist country as a direct result of American sanctions.

Unison says public service workers in Wales felt a solidarity with Cuban healthcare workers, having themselves experienced very trying Covid conditions and seeing the devastation caused when there was a lack of protective equipment.

The union used the money to buy 3,500 masks, 500 gloves, hand sanitiser and handwash for Cuban medical staff.

Katie Hall, Unison Cymru’s international forum chairman, said: “Public service workers in Wales faced their greatest challenge fighting Covid, caring for the sick and keeping our communities going.

“We cannot imagine how Cuban hospitals are coping under the strain of the American blockade and insufficient equipment. This threatens the safety of healthcare workers and their patients.

“Unjust US sanctions mean Cuban people do not have some basic food provisions and even pens and notebooks are hard to get, not to mention masks, gloves and visors in Covid hospital wards.”

Richard Essex, who chairs Cymru Cuba, said: “As a result of the embargo imposed on them by the USA, Cubans can’t obtain medication for illnesses like cancer or equipment for treatment such as dialysis.

“In the past, Cymru Cuba has helped provide donations of operating theatres and ambulances. However, working with Unison has surpassed anything we’ve done before in one specific exercise and we are very proud to be associated with them.

“Unison’s members have shown a striking capacity for generosity and empathy. This is wonderful proof Welsh workers are keen to work together with Cuba to ensure that its people can be treated as well as they are in Britain. Ultimately, Cuba must be allowed to trade freely with the rest of the world.”