Yesterday I received a visit from the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, who made a trip abroad related to the defense of his country’s important oil interests. During his stop in Cuba, he took the opportunity to make contact with me and greet me personally, as he had promised, on August 13 of this year, when I had the privilege of reaching 88 years of age.
That day he presented me with some fruits, among them, some small pearl like ones, which I had never even seen before and taste excellent. He also presented me with a sports uniform, a gift from the Venezuelan athletes seeking to win laurels for their country. I was extraordinarily happy that he made the visit so soon, not only for the honor which his presence and quick action imply, when he is involved in the difficult task of carrying out the epic struggle of Hugo Chavez, as well as the exceptional actions he is carrying out. Our world is experiencing in an extraordinary and unique moment, every day the number of people who are conscious of this is greater. Among such events, one of the most dramatic is the genocide being carried out in the Gaza Strip, where 1.8 million human beings live trapped between the desert, the sea and the military power of a Middle Eastern country, where the most powerful empire which has ever existed has created – over more than half a century, and at a cost, according to some estimates, of almost 100 billion dollars – a sophisticated and at the same time irresponsible, military nuclear power.
HAVANA – Celebrations started here on Tuesday to mark the birthday of retired Cuban leader Fidel Castro, who turns 88 on Wednesday.
The commemorations, which include two days of cultural, athletic and civic events, began at 6 pm local time (2200 GMT) with the opening of an audiovisual exhibit of photographs of the iconic leader who led the 1959 Cuban Revolution.
The exhibit, titled “Fidel is Fidel,” features documentary photographs taken by renowned cameraman Roberto Chile, who has served as Castro’s personal photographer for 25 years.
Taken between 2005 and 2012, the images depicting the “tireless” former leader will be on show until Sept. 13, along with a Bronze sculpture of Castro inspired by one of his most emblematic photographic portraits.
Since 1970 to date, 4,950 kidney transplants have been performed in Cuba, 436 of which have been from living donors, the national press recently reported.
First kidney transplant from a living donor in Santiago de Cuba. Photo: Eduardo Palomas.
The procedure with living donors is carried out in of the country’s provinces of Havana; Villa Clara; Holguín; and Santiago de Cuba, where the first operation in this province was performed August 8 at Dr. Juan Bruno Zayas Surgical Hospital, where Yusnay Vázquez Ruiz received a kidney transplant donated by her mother Olga Ruiz Sané.
33 year old Yusnay who, like her mother, lives in the municipality of Contramaestre, was suffering from advanced chronic kidney failure which required her to undergo hemodialysis sessions every other day; resulting in Olga’s decision to give Yusnay her life back, by donating one of her own kidneys.
The delicate procedure – which consists firstly of an operation
to extract the kidney from the donor, followed by a surgical procedure to evaluate the organ’s condition, and a final operation to transplant the kidney into the receiving patient – carried out in less than four hours without major complications.
Julio César Serra, transplants director for the south-eastern region told Granma that other similar transplants are currently being prepared in Santiago de Cuba.
Casa de Las Américas is outraged by the Israeli genocide on Gaza. We hold the illegal Zionist gang that calls it state responsible. This could not happen without the full support of the Obama Administration, providing the funds and weapons used to kill and maim civilians indiscriminately, the majority women and children, as well as the continued destruction of schools/shelters, hospitals, power plants – and even mosques.
We demand that Israel end the massacre and siege on Gaza, and all forms of economic controls, and the use of humiliating checkpoints throughout the occupied territories
Casa de Las Américas unconditionally supports Gaza’s struggle for self-determination.
That day he presented me with some fruits, among them, some small pearl like ones, which I had never even seen before and taste excellent. He also presented me with a sports uniform, a gift from the Venezuelan athletes seeking to win laurels for their country.
I was extraordinarily happy that he made the visit so soon, not only for the honor which his presence and quick action imply, when he is involved in the difficult task of carrying out the epic struggle of Hugo Chavez, as well as the exceptional actions he is carrying out.
Our world is experiencing in an extraordinary and unique moment, every day the number of people who are conscious of this is greater. Among such events, one of the most dramatic is the genocide being carried out in the Gaza Strip, where 1.8 million human beings live trapped between the desert, the sea and the military power of a Middle Eastern country, where the most powerful empire which has ever existed has created – over more than half a century, and at a cost, according to some estimates, of almost 100 billion dollars – a sophisticated and at the same time irresponsible, military nuclear power.
You must be logged in to post a comment.