Dear Editor,

Many years ago, I was afforded the opportunity to study medicine in Cuba through the Jamaica–Cuba cooperation agreement established in the mid-1970s. That opportunity transformed my life. It allowed me to pursue a profession dedicated to service, to support my family, and to contribute meaningfully to the country I love and serve.

I am only one among hundreds of Jamaicans whose lives have been similarly changed by scholarships made possible through this historic partnership, which began when Dr Wykeham McNeill became the first Jamaican to benefit from the programme.

The impact of that collaboration has been immense. Graduates of Cuban medical schools have returned home to serve across Jamaica — working in hospitals, clinics, and communities throughout the island. Their presence has helped strengthen a health-care system that continues to face enormous demands and shortages. For many Jamaicans, especially in underserved areas, these physicians have represented access to care that might otherwise have been unavailable.

Beyond Jamaica, Cuba’s commitment to international cooperation has been extraordinary. Over decades, the Cuban Government has sent medical professionals and technical expertise to roughly 160 countries across the Caribbean, Latin America, and Africa. Here in Jamaica, Cuban doctors and health-care workers have been invaluable partners in our public health system. Their departure will inevitably leave further gaps in a sector already struggling to meet the needs of our population.

While medicine and health care may be the most visible example of Cuban internationalism, they are far from the only ones. Cuban scholarships have allowed students from Jamaica and other nations to pursue studies in engineering, agricultural sciences, and numerous other disciplines. These opportunities have helped build human capital across the developing world.

It is against this background that I feel compelled to express my deep concern at the recent decisions by governments, including our own, to distance themselves from Cuba under pressure related to the long-standing blockade against that country. This article is not written in a partisan political spirit. Rather, it is written out of a sense of personal responsibility and gratitude.

Governments may choose their diplomatic alignments as they see fit but those of us who have directly benefited from decades of cooperation with the Cuban people cannot remain silent or indifferent. We owe it to truth, to history, and to simple human decency to acknowledge the good that has been done and to stand in solidarity with those who have extended such generosity to our nation.

There comes a moment when individuals must draw a line in the sand and speak plainly against what they believe to be unjust. Silence, in the face of such circumstances, can become a form of complicity. As the often-quoted maxim reminds us: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

I therefore encourage my colleagues in Jamaica and across the world — particularly those who, like myself, have been beneficiaries of Cuba’s altruism — to lend their voices to this conversation. Let us acknowledge the profound contributions that Cuba has made to our lives and to our societies, and let us be courageous enough to express our gratitude openly and without hesitation.

Hasta la victoria siempre!

Dr André Christopher Vaccianna

Consultant general and laparoscopic surgeon