WHO ARE WE? USA/Cuba InfoMed, 1995-1996

USA/Cuba InfoMed is an all-volunteer organization based in the U.S., currently sponsored by the United Services Agency, and dedicated to support public health efforts in Cuba, particularly the Cuban medical information electronic system (INFOMED). Support for public health in other countries is also provided through collaborative projects initiated by Cuba's INFOMED

USA/Cuba InfoMed emerged from efforts in 1995 to provide Cuba's Ministry of Public Health with computers and other materials needed to sustain and expand its medical information network. These efforts were carried out in 1995 in coordination with the Peace for Cuba Task Force (San Francisco Bay Area).

The 10/23/1995 press release from the Cuban Ministry of Public Health reads: " Today took place in the offices of the National Center for Medical Sciences Information the first session for the operation of computers donated to Cuba to expand its electronic network for medical information(INFOMED)....These first 15 computers were received from a team headed by Juan Reardon, epidemiologist, and Dave Wald, mechanical engineer, both friends of Cuba living in the United States"

During 1996 USA/Cuba InfoMed collaborated with IFCO/Pastors for Peace in the implementation of the Friendshipment Caravan VI, which took near 400 computers to Cuba's InfoMed. The computer caravan was stopped at the border and the computers seized from Pastors for Peace/IFCO. Eventually, and after months of struggle and a hunger strike by members of the caravan, a compromise was reached. The U.S. federal government released the computers and granted an export license to an acceptable third party, the General Board of Church and Society of the United Methodist Church, which agreed to take the computers to Cuba under the terms of the granted license.

During the summer of 1996, while the above was taking place, USA/Cuba InfoMed continued its efforts by delivering an additional 70 computers to Cuba. USA/Cuba InfoMed has also assisted Cuban health professionals with spare parts, software, books, other materials requested and various technical consultation.

On September 12, 1996 the reconstituted friendshipment caravan, delayed by almost eight months of intransigence, crossed the border at the San Ysidro crossing point and caravanistas and computers were on their way to Havana on September 13. A great and appreciative celebration took place there. The computers were accompanied by David Wald, Jose Fernandez, Sey'a Sangari , John Reardon and other INFOMED volunteers of that time and delivered to Cuba's INFOMED where they started immediately serving hundreds of health professionals. The Methodist Church, with the assistance of IFCO/Pastors for Peace and Cuba's INFOMED, complied with the license reporting requirements regarding ultimate destination of each computer.

Through the difficulties of 1996 many people in the U.S. and abroad learned about the stupidity and inhumanity of the U.S. embargo of Cuba. In November USA/Cuba InfoMed took this message to New York to the national meeting of the American Public Health Association and ended the year with a great sense of accomplishment and a stronger commitment to support further Cuba's public health and medical informatics efforts by whatever means would yield the best response.

The significant impact on Cuba's health system of the delivered computers made USA/Cuba InfoMed more determined to send more and better computers in 1997, by any channel possible.

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