Matanzas, Cuba.- The director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Carissa Etienne, affirmed here today that the Cuban health system is unique and defends universal health, equity, solidarity and rights humans.

‘Many countries do not have the opportunity to access quality health services, near the communities and free of charge,’ stated the PAHO board after receiving detailed information on the health sector of the western city of Matanzas.

The PAHO high official visited in this tri-centenary city the clinic Carlos Verdugo, in the neighborhood of Pueblo Nuevo, which carries out, with encouraging results, the Reduction of Cardiovascular Risks Project through the Control of Hypertension and Secondary Prevention.

‘Many people do not know they are hypertensive and others, although they know it, do not take medical treatment or do not comply with it properly and in the long term it deteriorates numerous organs causing cerebrovascular diseases and myocardial infarction,’ Valdes explained.

Barbados, Colombia, Chile and now Cuba are participating in this initiative, which hopes to add Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia and Peru in the coming months.