Díaz-Canel thanked Conille for the support and work that UNICEF has done with Cuba, especially in natural disasters.

Díaz-Canel recalled his country’s commitment to the policies and efforts made at a global level in favor of the children, stressing that Cuba signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989. According to a national television report on Tuesday, he pointed out that amidst complex conditions aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the tightening of the blockade imposed by the United States, Cuba, with the support of UNICEF, has maintained its childhood immunization program with 14 vaccines, 11 of which are of national production.

The president recalled that Cuba was the first nation to vaccinate children against the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus using homemade vaccines.

He explained that the National People’s Power Assembly (Parliament) approved a policy for children, adolescents, and young people in July, which should become law soon.

During the meeting, the head of State confirmed his country’s willingness to expand cooperation with UNICEF, particularly in health and education. Conille, in turn, thanked President Díaz-Canel for receiving him in Cuba, where he visited hospitals and educational centers.

The UNICEF regional director also met with Public Health Minister José Ángel Portal, with whom he reaffirmed the willingness to reinforce and expand the relationship between Cuba and the UN agency.

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