Díaz-Canel says Cuba and PAHO will continue working together

Havana, October 18 (RHC)-- The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and president of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel met in Havana with Dr. Carissa Etienne, director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), who will soon conclude her 10-year term at the head of that international entity.

During the pleasant exchange, held at the Convention Palace, the head of state thanked the high-ranking official and the organization she heads for their support and cooperation with our country.

"We are not going to consider your words in this event as a farewell," the Cuban leader said in a friendly tone to Dr. Etienne, to whom he assured that PAHO will always be able to count on Cuba.

For her part, the visitor, who attended the inauguration of the IV International Convention 'Cuba-Health 2022' the day before, thanked Díaz-Canel in a special way for being a great friend of PAHO during all this time. In that sense, she acknowledged the contributions of the largest Antillean island during the decade-long term of his mandate in the organization.

"More than a membership, it has been a kind of partnership between PAHO and Cuba," she said.

In her exchange with the Cuban president, she highlighted the achievements of the Caribbean nation in the area of health, despite all the difficulties it has had to face, and emphasized the help it has given to other nations.

Dr. Carissa Etienne asserted that the entity she heads will continue to work closely with Cuba. "Cuba will be able to continue counting on PAHO in good times and bad," she emphasized.

Meanwhile, President Díaz-Canel ratified the will to continue working jointly with the Pan American Health Organization.

He also referred to the challenges to be faced in these difficult times for humanity.  "We cannot lose our focus on the search for a better world, which Fidel always defended as possible," he said.

Dr. Carissa Etienne asked the dignitary to convey warm greetings to Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, leader of the Cuban Revolution.

Also present at the exchange were Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz; Public Health Minister José Ángel Portal Miranda; Deputy Foreign Minister Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo and Dr. José Moya, representative of the Pan American and World Health Organization in Cuba.