{"id":16540,"date":"2024-12-19T12:42:25","date_gmt":"2024-12-19T17:42:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irismundial.ca\/cuba-a-new-project-a-new-collaboration-and-a-new-destination\/"},"modified":"2024-12-19T13:23:23","modified_gmt":"2024-12-19T18:23:23","slug":"cuba-a-new-project-a-new-collaboration-and-a-new-destination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irismundial.ca\/en\/cuba-a-new-project-a-new-collaboration-and-a-new-destination\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuba: a new project, a new collaboration and a new destination!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Sarah-Eve Gonnet, Partnerships and programs officer<\/em><\/p>\n

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As part of a special project to provide optical and ophthalmological equipment to Cuba, IRIS Mundial sent a number of donations last May. Several large items of equipment, such as a retinal camera and a visual field, were donated to our partners at the Ophthalmology Centre of the Hospital Provincial Cl\u00ednico Quir\u00fargico \u201cArnaldo Milian Castro\u201d. Some frames, lenses, magnifiers, white canes and spectacle cases were sent to our second Cuban partners, the Asociaci\u00f3n nacional de ciegos de Cuba (ANCI) in Villa Clara.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Context<\/span>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

This project follows an initial meeting in September 2023 between IRIS Mundial’s Partnerships and Programs officer and the directors of the Santa Clara Provincial Hospital Ophthalmology Center and ANCI, who outlined the region’s needs in terms of the acquisition of optical and ophthalmological equipment and materials.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

For over sixty (60) years, the country has been under an economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States. This policy, implemented during the Kennedy era, has had a major impact on the island’s economic development. Despite extremely limited resources, the Cuban healthcare system is, according to the WHO, a world benchmark, since it has succeeded in universalizing its system of free healthcare for the population throughout its territory. Cuba also shares its expertise with people in developing countries around the world. Since 2023, nearly 24,000 Cuban healthcare professionals have been on assignment in over 60 countries. Although Cuba’s healthcare system is world-renowned, production capacities for Cuban-designed vaccines and medicines are hampered by frequent shortages of imported raw materials and essential components. Today, Cuba is going through its worst economic crisis in 30 years, with inflation at 70% and a worsening shortage of food, medicines, inputs and fuel.<\/p>\n

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Hospital Provincial Cl\u00ednico Quir\u00fargico “Arnaldo Milian Castro”<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Arnaldo Mili\u00e1n Castro Provincial University Hospital provides clinical and surgical services to the population of Villa Clara province and has 13 territorial services for the central provinces. It is the largest teaching center in the province. The Ophthalmology Center of the Provincial Hospital offers its population around 13 services, including refractions, eye surgery, electrophysiological testing and contact lens fitting.<\/p>\n

The Ophthalmology Center also boasts a Low Vision Clinic, where a multidisciplinary team is responsible for the visual rehabilitation of patients with ophthalmological conditions that lead to a deterioration in visual quality without any possible optical, surgical or medical correction. The aim is to help them accomplish as many tasks and activities of daily living as possible, and thus improve their quality of life.<\/p>\n

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Asociaci\u00f3n nacional de ciegos de Cuba (ANCI) of Villa Clara<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Known by the acronym ANCI, it was the first national organization of blind Cubans, founded in 1975. Today, the national ANCI has over 23,000 members throughout the country. The fundamental objective of this Cuban organization is to achieve the integration of the blind and visually impaired into social life, which requires the integral rehabilitation of the individual. This is why ANCI’s plans at all levels include integration into work and education, as well as the practice of various sporting disciplines, access to culture and leisure activities.<\/p>\n

There are 15 ANCI provincial offices responsible for its municipal offices. In the province of Villa Clara, there are 2,084 associates across the province, 13 municipal offices, 1 special school for blind and\/or visually impaired children and 1 provincial hospital (the Ophthalmology Center and the Low Vision Clinic of the Hospital Provincial Cl\u00ednico Quir\u00fargico \u201cArnaldo Milian Castro\u201d).<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ specialty=”on” padding_top_1=”0px” padding_bottom_1=”0px” admin_label=”Image Gallery Section” module_class=” et_pb_specialty_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ inner_width=”100%” inner_width_tablet=”100%” inner_width_phone=”” inner_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” inner_max_width=”100%” inner_max_width_tablet=”100%” inner_max_width_phone=”” inner_max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/irismundial.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Cuba-1.jpg” title_text=”Cuba 1″ show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#ffffff” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”|||” box_shadow_style=”preset7″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_spread=”8px” box_shadow_color=”#ffffff” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/irismundial.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Cuba-3.jpg” title_text=”Cuba 3″ show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#ffffff” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”|||” box_shadow_style=”preset7″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_spread=”8px” box_shadow_color=”#ffffff” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/irismundial.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Cuba-2.jpg” title_text=”Cuba 2″ show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#ffffff” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”|||” box_shadow_style=”preset7″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_spread=”8px” box_shadow_color=”#ffffff” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/irismundial.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Cuba-4.jpg” title_text=”Cuba 4″ show_in_lightbox=”on” use_overlay=”on” overlay_icon_color=”#ffffff” hover_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.3)” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”|||” box_shadow_style=”preset7″ box_shadow_horizontal=”0px” box_shadow_vertical=”0px” box_shadow_spread=”8px” box_shadow_color=”#ffffff” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Market Information Section” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”1px||0px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”Market Information Title Area” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|3px|0px||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.8em” animation_style=”flip” animation_direction=”left” animation_intensity_flip=”20%” animation_starting_opacity=”100%” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Villa Clara area needs<\/span>: <\/strong><\/p>\n

The optical and ophthalmological equipment available at the Provincial Hospital’s Ophthalmology Centre and Low Vision Clinic is several years old, and some of it is missing parts. As for ANCI, the rare optical and ophthalmological equipment they do have is mostly obsolete. It is very difficult to obtain equipment and spare parts in Cuba, due to the country’s economic crisis and constant shortages.<\/p>\n

Since the donations were received in the province of Villa Clara, frames and spectacle cases have gradually been distributed to the province’s 13 municipalities, located in rural areas far from the main health centers. Magnifiers, white canes and corrective lenses have all been delivered according to the needs of the beneficiaries and to the escuela Provincial fructuoso Rodr\u00edguez<\/em> elementary school for blind and\/or visually impaired children.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Thank you to our partners, without whom this project would not have been a success:<\/p>\n