Category Archives: Cuban Medicine

Cuba includes pneumococcal vaccine in National Immunization Program

The Cuban National Health System will begin using the Pneumosil 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine for all infants born this year, starting September 9, announced Lena López Ambrón, director of the National Immunization Program of the Ministry of Health, at a press conference yesterday.
López Ambrón explained that all babies born between January 1 and June 30 of this year will be vaccinated, which is about 27,500 babies.
Likewise, those born in the month of July who reach two months of age, the date established for the first dose to be administered in the vaccination program, will be vaccinated, she said.
The vaccination program, she said, consists of the application of a first dose, after two months a second dose will be applied and seven months later a third booster dose will be applied.
The director of the National Immunization Program stressed that the side effects that can occur with this vaccine are the common ones: muscular discomfort, redness or inflammation of the site where the injection was administered, fever or chills, and there is a very low risk of presenting allergic reactions.

Photo: UnicefCuba

She commented that during the first week of September, the directors of immunization and of the Mother and Child Program will be trained on the characteristics and methods of application of Pneumosil 10 valente, with the participation of experts from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
She added that from the indicated date, mothers and fathers should go with their children of the indicated ages to the vaccination centers in their health areas.
WHY VACCINATE AGAINST PNEUMOCOCCAL DISEASE?
López Ambrón said that the vaccine is the most effective measure to prevent the disease.
She added that with the inclusion of Pneumosil 10 valente in the vaccination scheme of the Island, this reaches 17 immunologicals, of which 12 are of national production, for the pride of Cuban biotechnology.
She explained that this pneumococcal vaccine prevents ten of the main serotypes in circulation – 1, 5, 6a, 6b, 7f, 9v, 14, 19a, 19f and 23f – which cause invasive pneumococcal diseases, mainly severe cases of acute meningitis, pneumonia or sepsis.
The doctor noted that Pneumosil has no contraindications with other immunizers in the program, such as pentavalent and bivalent oral polio vaccine.
The purchase of this vaccine was made possible thanks to support from the Global Vaccine Alliance and PAHO.

FROM OUR ❤ TO CUBA

Cuba’s exemplary health service, free to all its citizens and many others through its international missions, now can’t access many medicines and supplies essential for the care, at times life saving, that its people need.

Cubans with heart conditions are dying or suffering serious symptoms because there are no heart pacemakers to implant. The most seriously ill cannot leave the hospital without a pacemaker.

Let’s raise $150,000 to send 300 heart pacemakers to Cuba. $500 will buy a heart pacemaker. Cuban surgeons will then insert it at no cost to the patient.

Act now with your tax-deductible donation!

Make checks payable to Global Health Partners, memo pacemakers, and mail to Global Health Partners, 39 Broadway, Suite 1540 New York, NY 10006

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ghpartners.org/cuba2024

Cuba develops new hip prosthesis

Cuba develops new hip prosthesis
Cuba presented a homegrown hip prosthesis to meet the domestic demand, especially among the elderly, a demographic segment that represents a little more than 20 percent of the population.

Author: Radio Habana Cuba | internet@granma.cu

february 17, 2023 08:02:50

Photo: Estudios Revolución

Havana, Feb 16 (RHC) Cuba presented a homegrown hip prosthesis to meet the domestic demand, especially among the elderly, a demographic segment that represents a little more than 20 percent of the population.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel described as a success of Cuban science the prototype that was unveiled during the regular meeting of experts and scientists on medical issues.
According to information from the Presidency of the Republic, the project is the result of collaboration among several institutions, including the Public Health Ministry and the Union of Military Industry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR).
Companies, universities, and private stockholders also participated, among them the self-employed worker Osbel Fleitas, who devised a welding machine, an innovative and essential element for the production of the prostheses.
In November 2022, the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices (CECMED) granted Exceptional Use Authorization to this product, which is currently in Phase III of Clinical Trials, which has allowed its use in 38 patients.
The specialist in orthopedics and traumatology Roberto Balmaseda said that the people treated at the Fructuoso Rodriguez Hospital have not presented any technical complications during the surgical procedure, nor are there any adverse reactions or infections after the implants.
The expert considered that in the medium term, Cuba will be in a position to obtain technological sovereignty regarding these prostheses, since the industry is currently capable of producing 150 of these devices every month.
Diaz-Canel pointed out that beyond what has been achieved, this work opens the way for the development of other kinds of prostheses that are also needed in the country. (Source: PL)

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Cuban vaccine against lung cancer makes its way in the United States

 

Cuban vaccine against lung cancer makes its way in the United States

Originally published: Granma English by Granma English (more by Granma English) | (Posted Aug 06, 2022)

Health, Movements, StrategyAmericas, Cuba, United StatesNewswireCenter for Molecular Immunology (CIM), Cimavax-EGF, Innovative Immunotherapy Alliance, Lung Cancer, Roswell Park Cancer Research Center
Cimavax-EGF, a Cuban therapeutic vaccine against lung cancer, conquers the scientific community and the population of the United States based on the achievements compiled in studies carried out. The vaccine was obtained after more than two decades of research and have shown satisfactory results in patients in advanced stages of lung cancer.

The Cuban Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) and the Roswell Park Cancer Research Center in Buffalo, in the United States of America, joined forces a few years ago to facilitate access to equipment and reagents in order to promote the development of the drug, reported Russia Today.

The creation of the only joint venture between Cuba and the United States, the Innovative Immunotherapy Alliance, a biotechnological company to insert the drug in the U.S. society, facilitated Cuba’s access to equipment and reagents which are very difficult to obtain due to the limitations of the coercive measure of the economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed by the United States on the island, and the northern country can have access to a drug with excellent results and prospects.

Doctor Elia Neninger, who participated of in the clinical trials of the therapeutic vaccine from the beginning, assured the Russian TV station that the drug has two great advantages: few adverse reactions and a solution to lung cancer, which is a serious health problem in Cuba.

Deputy director of the Molecular Immunology Center Kalet León Monzón said that the patients who have received the vaccine are recovering from advanced tumor cancer and could have the prospect of survival in normal conditions in the very short term, according to Russia Today.

One of the beneficiaries of the vaccine, Miguel Creus, a patient who began to receive Cimavax 15 years ago, when the disease was in stage four and the vaccine was in clinical trials, assures that the drug has prolonged his life with a satisfactory state of health, and that at present he has no traces of tumors or symptoms of the disease.

Despite the effects of the economic blockade of the United States against Cuba, the collaboration between the two institutions continues and Cimavax overcomes the challenges. At present, there are clinical trials that combine this Cuban vaccine with other successful cancer treatments and their effects in high-risk people or patients in the initial stages of the disease are being studied.

According to some studies, lung cancer is the third most frequent cancer in the United States and the deadliest. This Cuban drug could be a promising relief, a good example of the benefits both nations would obtain if they had a normal relationship. (International News Office)

Translated by ESTI