Cubans celebrated on January 1, the 62nd anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution
A challenging year, marked by the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, which in the case of Cuba, combined with the strengthening of the economic, financial and commercial blockade by the United States, causing a severe impact on the country’s economy.
However, the Cuban government has pursued with the 2030 National Strategic Economic and Social Plan, which starts on January 1, 2021 with the process of monetary and exchange regulations reforming salaries, worker pensions, State subsidies and the like.
In 2021, the investment plan has increased by 22% compared to 2020, with 60% of the resources concentrated in priority sectors such as food production, pharmaceutical products; defence, tourism; renewable energy, housing programs, cement and steel production plants. Its economic policy for 2021 also prioritizes import substitution, production incentives and direct foreign investment.
In parallel, Cuba continues the process of modernizing national legislation within the new Constitution from April 19, 2019, allowing popular consultations and a referendum on the new Family Code.
In 2020, Cuba demonstrated a good management of Covid-19, with a high recovery rate thanks to effective treatments, the adoption of a comprehensive and multidisciplinary strategy including the support from the biopharmaceutical sector. In addition, the Cuban government has adopted measures to help Cuban citiznes overseas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) included two Cuban vaccines in its program, which have already entered the clinical trial phases in the island. The “Finlay Institute” confirmed its ability to immunize the Cuban population against the SARS CoV-2 virus in the first semester of 2021. The WHO also included in its Vaccine Data System two additional Cuban candidates that are under development.
Cuba has sent more than 53 medical brigades to more than 39 countries and territories. 57 years of medical cooperation around the world has motivated the nomination of the Cuban Henry Reeve Medical Brigades, specialized in disasters and serious epidemics, for the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize.
In 2020 Cuba registered an infant mortality rate of 4.9 per thousand live births and in UNESCO’s World Education Monitoring Report 2020, it highlights 100% of preschool coverage.
