US Secretary Of HHS To Visit Cuba- Twenty Staff Already In Havana; Cuba Reports Before HHS

Once again, the government of the Republic of Cuba announces a visit by an official of the United States Government before the United States Government releases the information...

HAVANA, October 18, 2016. The Secretary of Health and Human Services of the United States, Sylvia Burwell will pay a working visit to Cuba between 20 and 22 October 2016.

During her stay, the Secretary will pursue issues of bilateral cooperation, covered by the framework Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Public Health of Cuba (MINSAP) and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, signed last June in the context of the visit by Dr. Roberto Morales Ojeda, Minister of Public Health, Washington.

The Secretary, in addition to a meeting with his Cuban counterpart and other officials of the Ministry of Public Health, will visit health institutions and medical, biotech and pharmaceutical industry. It will participate in the Regional Meeting for Surveillance and Control Strategy of airborne viruses, which will take place on 20 and 21 October in Havana. (Cubaminrex)

From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba:

LA HABANA, 18 de octubre de 2016.  La secretaria de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los Estados Unidos, Sylvia Burwell, realizará una visita de trabajo a Cuba entre el 20 y el 22 de octubre de 2016.

Durante su estancia, dará continuidad a temas de la colaboración bilateral, amparados por el Memorando de Entendimiento marco entre el Ministerio de Salud Pública de Cuba (MINSAP) y el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de los Estados Unidos, firmado el pasado mes de junio en el contexto de la visita realizada por el Dr. Roberto Morales Ojeda, ministro de Salud Pública, a Washington.

La Secretaria, además de sostener un encuentro con su homólogo cubano y otros directivos del MINSAP, visitará instituciones de la salud y de la industria médico, biotecnológica y farmacéutica. Además, participará en la Reunión Regional para la Estrategia de Vigilancia y Control de las Arbovirosis, que tendrá lugar el 20 y 21 de octubre, en La Habana. (Cubaminrex)

June 13, 2016

HHS Engages in Historic Health Collaboration with Cuba

"Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) - PDF with Cuba’s Ministry of Public Health, an important milestone between the two countries since the re-establishment of diplomatic relations in 2015.

The MOU [CLICK HERE FOR LINK TO DOCUMENT] establishes coordination across a broad spectrum of public health issues, including global health security, communicable and non-communicable diseases, research and development, and information technology. The signing also kicks off a two-day visit to HHS from Cuba’s Minister of Health, Dr. Roberto Tomás Morales Ojeda.

“Cuba has made significant contributions to health and science, as evidenced by their contribution to the Ebola response in West Africa and becoming the first country to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission. This new collaboration is a historic opportunity for two nations to build on each other’s knowledge and experience, and benefit biomedical research and public health at large,” Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell said.

The U.S. and Cuba share an interest in detecting and responding to emerging infectious diseases such as dengue and chikungunya, serious mosquito-borne viral diseases. Both countries also have an aging population, necessitating an increased focus on responding to the increasing burden of neurodegenerative and non-communicable diseases, including cancer, which is the leading cause of death in Cuba and second in the U.S."

Several U.S. delegations have already traveled to Cuba, and Cuba’s vice minister for Public Health spent a week at HHS in April.