1998 update

1998 USA/Cuba InfoMed Update

During the USA/Cuba InfoMed annual planning meeting in Berkeley on January 10th important goals were set for year 1998. We proposed to ship to Cuba 500 additional computer systems. We also decided to send only Windows capable machines (386's and 486's types). Furthermore, we realized the need to put further efforts into moving the restriction line of the embargo of computers to Cuba. The license given to the Methodist Church in 1996 allowed the delivery to a non-governmental-organization (The MLK Center,associated to a Cuban Baptist Church). Similarly, the license that Global Links had obtained in 1997 required the delivery of computers to a non-governmental-organization in Cuba.

We decided that it was time to obtain a license to ship computers directly to the Cuban government's Ministry of Public Health, which is the entity in charge of Cuba's universal and free health care system.

We also committed to collaborate with Cuba's process of reinsertion in the Caribbean. Isolation is the intent of the U.S. blockade of Cuba. Cuba needs its neighbors and they need Cuba. We decided to help organize in Havana the workshop: "Three-way cooperation for the Development of Medical Informatics in Jamaica".

In its January 1, 1998 edition, the Silicon Valley based computer industry magazine, MicroTimes, included USA/Cuba-InfoMed/Cuba and its founders Dave Wald and Juan Reardon in its 11th annual year end list of the "MicroTimes 100 -- High Tech's High Achievers -- Famous and Not So Famous." Here's what they had to say "We're happy to applaud this endeavor and hope it inspires others to recycle old equipment where it will do the most good."(Steve Jobs and Bill Gates also made the list, but who cares about that.. (See also: The feature article on USA/Cuba-InfoMed/ Cuba published in MicroTimes ; November 14, 1995)

During the early months of 1998, USA/Cuba InfoMed participated in the preparation of the first University of California at Berkeley sponsored conference "A Dialogue with Cuba" March 19-21, 1998.

This very successful conference brought together prestigious personalities of science, culture and society of both Cuba and the U.S. Parallel to the conference USA/Cuba InfoMed organized an evening reception for Cuban delegates from the fields of Public Health, HIV/AIDS program, solar energy and the Cuban Interest Section in Washington D.C.

At the end of April 1998, a group of USA/Cuba InfoMed volunteers traveled to Cuba to visit our Cuban companeros, to deliver more material support (over 200 modems), and to share a good time and to participate in the May Day parade.

After a few delicious days of rest in Cuba's internationally famous Varadero beach, the delegation was received at Cuba's INFOMED headquarters in Havana with words of gratitude and camraderie.

We also visited the Ministry of Public Health , which provided USA/Cuba InfoMed with a letter of endorsementletter of endorsement for future activities, and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP),whose president, Sergio Corrieri also provided USA/Cuba InfoMed with a letter of appreciation and support . A special welcoming to USA/Cuba InfoMed took place at the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

On May Day ( 5/1 )1998, the USA/Cuba InfoMed delegation marched with the Cuban InfoMedistas and public health professionals and hundreds of Cuban workers on the main parade, carrying a sign which read (in Spanish): "Friendship and Solidarity: 800 computers for INFOMED-CNICM-MINSAP-CUBA".

We ended the day in a great dinner party of friendship attended by our delegation, Dr. Jardines, Dr. Ojito, Pedro Urra and most of the CNICM and INFOMED staff. During 1998 we collected the 500 computers systems and waited for a resolution around the license. (The license would come only in early 1999 and the 500 computers and spare parts shipped during the first half of 1999).

USA/Cuba InfoMed promoted through its web page and other means the resolutions of the first US-Cuba Friendship Conference, held in Havana, Cuba, July 28-30, 1998.

In order to strengthen our case to be able to ship medical aid directly to the Ministry of Public Health we initiated in 1998 a campaign to gain the support of congress representatives. The ban on agencies of the Cuban government agencies had to be overcome if we were to succeed in getting the computer equipment to its intended recipient. At the same time this effort would advance the Cuban Humanitarian Trade Act (HR 1951 and S 1391) in the Congress. Congressman Tom Campbell and 15 additional representatives signed (10/16/1998) a letter of support directed to the Secretary of Commerce requesting that the computers be allowed to be sent to the Cuban Ministry of Public Health. During the 105^th congress 132 representatives became co-sponsors of HR-1951.

In the City of Havana, Cuba, on October 12-16 the international workshop "Three-way Cooperation for the Development of Medical Informatics in Jamaica" took place, sponsored by USA/Cuba InfoMed. In addition to Dr. Jeremias Hernadez Ojito, Director of CNICM, Pedro Urra Hernandez, Director of INFOMED, Barbara Lazo Rodriguez, Director of Cuban National Medical Library, Dr. Nilia V.Escobar Yendez, Vice-Rector of the Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba, and Antonio Franco Camps, Manager of the Santiago de Cuba Provincial Node, the meeting was privileged with the presence of Laxmi Mansingh, Project Director of MEDCARIB, Jamaica, and the University of West Indies; Vinnese Dias, Librarian from the Jamaican Ministry of Health, Audrey Chamber, Librarian and Janet Mccallum, both from the University of West Indies, in Jamaica. David Wald, Tom Kelly and Mike Willis constituted the USA/Cuba InfoMed delegation to the meeting.

The three delegations met to explore the possibility of undertaking a trilateral cooperative effort and increased accessibility of medical informatics in Jamaica. There were reviews of history and current activities in both Cuba and Jamaica, training workshops, and brainstorming sessions for future collaborative efforts. The meeting was a success and everyone left very satisfied with the prospects.

During November 15-19, 1998, two papers were presented in the national annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, in Washington D.C. the first paper was : "Developing Public Health Partnerships for Medical Information: Opposing the U.S. Embargo of Cuba" Juan Reardon, David Wald, Dana Simon, Rita Barouch, Brigid Simms, Thomas Kelly, Lisa Simon. The second paper was : "Investing in the Cuban Health Sector: An Option for Solidarity and Friendship" Thomas Kelly, Rita Barouch, Don Hill, Francisco Rodriguez, Brigid Simms, Juan Reardon and David Wald.

Finally, USA/Cuba InfoMed spearheaded the formation of the "Truth About Cuba Coalition" , with headquarters in Washington DC, A clearinghouse for information supporting the lifting of the US blockade of Cuba. For the general public, the Cuba Solidarity activists, the media and for elected officials. A clearinghouse for information on the Cuban American National Foundation and its corrupt practices. A source of information supporting legislative (and other) efforts to end the blockade, along with legislative efforts to weaken the blockade. A source of information for elected officials sponsoring and/or voting on such legislation. An organization representing its members in Washington DC in meetings and forums congregating different sectors and groups promoting a change in policy towards Cuba.

We ended 1998 with 500 computers ready to go and waiting for a license to ship them to the Cuban Ministry of Public Health.

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