Mexico City, Feb 26 (Prensa Latina) The José Martí Association of Cuban Residents in Mexico today condemned the decision of the United States government to suspend visas associated with international medical cooperation agreements with the Caribbean nation.
This is “part of a defamatory campaign that seeks to damage the prestige of medical brigades, under the argument of ‘labor exploitation’, ‘modern slavery’ or ‘human trafficking’ to justify new sanctions against our people,” the group said in a statement.
The organization noted that this measure is the seventh in a month of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, “demonstrating the visceral hatred of his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, towards Cuba and his desire to create greater hardship” for its citizens.
He said that the US is restricting the issuance of visas to Cuban officials and those of third countries that it describes as “accomplices,” once again applying extraterritoriality that violates international law, to prevent nations from signing agreements with the island.
“This is once again the unhealthy pursuit of any possibility of income for the Cuban economy,” he denounced.
According to the organization, it is “important to refute this campaign and clarify that the medical missions are voluntary, that is, doctors and health personnel who wish to take part in them register, at no time is it forced labor or exploitation.”
The text recalls that Cuba’s humanitarian and internationalist character with its medical brigades has been proven in its participation in natural disasters, the fight against Ebola and Covid-19, recognized on several occasions by the World Health Organization.
“The places where these brigades work are the most remote and forgotten corners of the countries that hire them, where their inhabitants are often treated by a doctor for the first time,” the Association stressed.
He explained that the income is reinvested first in the island’s health system, which is universal and free, and in guaranteeing other social rights that all Cubans have, “despite the restrictions resulting from the criminal blockade” imposed by the United States.
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