Namibians Cuba campaign shifts focus to medical supplies
Namibians have raised more than N$700 000 in less than two months to support humanitarian relief efforts in Cuba, with organisers now preparing to procure and ship urgently needed medical supplies to the Caribbean island.
The National Solidarity Campaign with Cuba announced on Thursday this week, that it has collected N$700 093 since its launch on 22 April this year, describing the response as evidence of the enduring ties between the two countries forged during Namibia's liberation struggle.
Campaign chairperson, Helmut Angula, said the initiative was established in response to worsening humanitarian conditions in Cuba, which organisers attribute to decades-long economic sanctions and trade restrictions imposed by the United States.
“The response from the Namibian people has been inspiring and demonstrates the enduring bonds of solidarity and friendship between Namibia and Cuba,” Angula said during a media briefing in Windhoek on Thursday.
According to the campaign, consultations with Cuban partners identified the country's healthcare sector as the most urgent area requiring support.
Angula said shortages of medicines, medical consumables and equipment continue to affect healthcare facilities across Cuba, with vulnerable groups such as children and patients requiring specialised treatment among the hardest hit.
The campaign's immediate priority is therefore to procure a first batch of international medical supplies for shipment to Cuba once logistical arrangements have been finalised.
“Our immediate focus is to ensure that life-saving medical supplies reach those who need them most,” Angula said.
The campaign was launched against the backdrop of longstanding political and historical ties between Namibia and Cuba.
Angula said many Namibians continue to remember Cuba's contribution to the liberation struggles of Southern Africa, including its military involvement alongside Angolan and Namibian liberation forces during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale and its support following the Cassinga massacre in 1978.
He also highlighted Cuba's role in educating Namibian children during the liberation struggle and providing technical experts to Namibia after independence.
“The people of Namibia have benefitted and continue to benefit from the generosity of the Cuban people,”he said.
To coordinate the initiative, the National Solidarity Committee with Cuba established four sub-committees focusing on fundraising, public relations, mobilisation and logistics.
While organisers welcomed the N$700 000 raised so far, they stressed that the campaign remains far from complete.
“Considering the gravity of the situation in Cuba, we need much more,” Angula said.
He emphasised that the campaign is not intended as a once-off intervention but forms part of an ongoing humanitarian effort aimed at strengthening access to healthcare and other essential services in Cuba.
The committee has also appealed to the international community to continue supporting humanitarian initiatives in the country.
The campaign says it will provide further updates as additional funds are raised and the first consignment of medical supplies is prepared for delivery.
