The British Embassy in Havana is supporting projects that will
deliver relevant and measurable outcomes responding to Cuba’s
efforts to cope with the pandemic.
Small-scale project interventions with funds from the
International Programme (IP) of the Foreign, Commonwealth and
Development Office (FCDO) in Cuba, will contribute to increase
the country’s sanitary resilience, support research into vaccines
and therapeutics, and mitigate the domestic economic impact of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
British Ambassador to Cuba, Dr Antony Stokes LVO said:
Cooperation between countries is essential in responding to the
challenges posed by COVID-19. In addition to putting the
world’s health systems under pressure, the pandemic has
impacted our economies. The projects drive bilateral
collaboration in these two key areas.
The Embassy is assisting the Cuban Centre for Neurosciences
(CNEURO) in its effort to optimize the diagnosis and treatment
approaches that minimize brain damage in patients. The
institution also works on improving the treatment of
COVID-19-related respiratory deficits and will implement a
protocol for the assimilation and use of non-invasive Continuous
Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices, based on a design by
University College London.
Dr Mitchel Valdés-Sosa, Director of CNEURO said:
Non-invasive ventilation implies a significant improvement in
the recovery of patients. Both projects are innovative within
the portfolio of projects aimed at combating COVID-19 in Cuba,
and an important resource to improve the prevention, diagnosis
and treatment of current and future diseases.
The British Embassy is also collaborating with the Cuban Centre
for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) in several areas
of research, related to: the clinical trial of an immune
enhancer, the development of diagnostic tests for serological
antigen detection and the effect of an existing antiviral in
COVID-19 positive patients.
Dr Eulogio Pimentel, Director of CIGB, said:
In facing the pandemic in Cuba, the possibility of developing
specific and effective drugs against this disease has been
essential. In this sense, we appreciate the contribution of the
United Kingdom, to be able to acquire multiple reagents and
materials necessary to ensure the progress of the three
mentioned actions.
On mitigating the economic impact of COVID-19 in Cuba, the
Embassy is supporting research that will bring about concrete
proposals to transform the fresh food commerce in Cuba. Equally,
it will support the Cuban private sector in its discussions on
how to strengthen the sector despite the devastating consequences
that the outbreak has had for them.
Four years of collaboration
Since 2016, the FCDO’s International Programme has provided
financial support for events, research, workshops, visits and
other interventions that support development projects and
exchange between the UK and Cuba.
The Embassy works with the Cuban government, academia,
international organisations and civil society to support the
country’s development in areas such as: economic reform, global
health threats, biotech and life sciences, public governance,
financial and professional services, higher education and English
Language teaching, renewable energy, creative industries, and the
media, among others.
Examples of this past work are:
- Training workshop on accessing climate finance for mitigation
in energy and transport.
- Workshops on potential value and impact of a stronger
Creative Industries sector in the Cuban economy.
- Training to the Cuban banking sector by several institutions
from the City of London on issues such as: digital banking and
Fintech, strengthening governance and strategic leadership in
banks, building a future-proof financial technology programme,
retail banking & SME lending, among others.
- Assisting Cuba in the development of a National Public
Procurement Strategy
- Assessing the role and value of energy storage in Cuba.
- Technical assistance by Public Health England (PHE) for
training and implementation of immunological assays for improving
vaccine evaluation at the Cuban Finlay Vaccine Institute.
- Supporting the reshaping of the policy for English Language
teaching at Cuban universities.
- Workshops and visits on entrepreneurship and its role within
the Cuban economy.
For the Financial Year 2020-21, the British Embassy in Havana has
been forced to suspend the call for projects bids to be supported
by the International Programme. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19
the British government is focused on its response to the global
pandemic.
