The National Network on Cuba and the U.S.-Cuba Normalization Coalition have launched a new campaign that combines raising money to send crucially needed cardiac pacemakers to Cuba with boosting efforts to end Washington’s economic war against Cuba and to remove Cuba from the U.S. State Department State Sponsor of Terrorism (SSOT) list. That designation makes it almost impossible for Cuba to buy pacemakers commercially. 

The materials below provide more details about the campaign. They can also be accessed at the Saving Lives Campaign website.

World-Outlook is publishing them for the information of our readers, and to encourage support for and participation in this effort.

—World-Outlook editors

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From Our Hearts to Cuban Hearts:

Send Pacemakers to Cuba and Remove Cuba from SSOT List

Dear Cuba Supporter:

What would you do if your relative, co-worker, or friend had a heart condition and couldn’t get the needed pacemaker? This is the dire situation of thousands of our Cuban friends, whose outstanding healthcare system has been under attack by U.S. policy. The U.S. government is responsible for Cuban citizens dying and suffering.

FIRST, we need to continue our efforts to tear down the U.S. blockade of Cuba and to take Cuba off the U.S. list of “State Sponsors of Terrorism” (SSOT). President Trump’s totally unjustified placement of Cuba on the SSOT list economically isolates Cuba, because financial institutions refuse to handle Cuban transactions of any kind, including money transfers, payment to vendors, etc. The SSOT has severely hampered Cuba’s ability to receive regular shipments of fuel, food, and medical supplies.

Make your opinions known to President Biden and Vice President Harris as well as your congressional representatives – by phone, email or, best of all, in person. Alternatively or in addition, get a resolution passed and sent to Biden by your union branch, labor council or city council. For information on how to do this and other ways to advocate go to:

• https://acere.org/acere-advocacy-toolkit/
• https://nnoc.org/resolutions/
• https://savinglives.us-cubanormalization.org/

SECOND, the situation calls for our immediate, more direct, collective action. Currently, thousands of Cubans face unnecessary and premature death because U.S. policy undermines Cuba’s ability to purchase heart pacemakers, which maintain normal heart rate and rhythm for people with heart disease. It is urgent that you join the Saving Lives Pacemakers Campaign to help raise at least $150,000 to purchase and send to Cuba at least 300 pacemakers.

With the leadership of Global Health Partners, we’ve arranged to purchase Cuban Ministry of Health-approved pacemakers for a below-market price of $500 each.

Our previous Saving Lives Campaigns (to purchase syringes and anesthesia machines) were very successful thanks to the participation of so many individuals and organizations.

When we act to show our solidarity with Cuba, it shows our gratitude for the much greater efforts of the Cuban International Medical Brigades, and for the efforts of Cuba to use their vaccines to immunize other countries with limited resources in the Global South. It’s time again to show we have a heart for Cuba and save the hearts and lives of Cubans.

Please make a donation today and reach out to your networks to urge them to do the same.

• Make checks payable to Global Health Partners with the memo “pacemakers” and mail to: Global Health Partners, 39 Broadway, Suite 1540 New York, NY 10006.
• For debit & credit card payments, visit the GHP website (https://ghpartners.org)  or go directly to the payment page (https://ghpartners.org/cuba2024/)

In solidarity,

NNOC, U.S. Cuba Normalization Coalition & Saving Lives Campaign

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