If something positive will leave the COVID-19 it will be to rediscover the essences that make us truly human.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- Together we are stronger to beat the virus that mourns the planet. And in the midst of pain we recognize ordinary people willing to take risks for the good of others. We admire them without knowing names or distinguishing the face behind the masks and the shields; so much greatness has overcome the details and it is enough to define them with the same word: brave.
Each one brought a story and multiple reasons. In those hours the desire to help prevailed over personal sacrifices. Doctors, nurses, laboratory workers, educators, drivers, cooks, assistants ... became essential. The applause echoed - still resounds - by everyone; for those here and also for those who crossed the borders with the sole purpose of saving lives.
A few Cubans, spread throughout the world, wanted to be in the lap of the mother country, aware of the virtues of a nation that protects its children. Others, the insiders, trusted in the fortresses and perhaps as never before, they felt so much happiness of living in this soil.
Now that everything seems to return to “normality,” it is well worth bringing the solidarity, organization, responsibility and love that kept us safe from this trip when many predicted an unprecedented debacle. We are here, showing the strength of a social system, always perfectible, able to overcome obstacles and move on. A country that could wrong in the search for solutions, but knows how to rectify, learn, grow...
On such difficult days, besieged by the U.S. Administration that continues in its ruthless attempt to extinguish the nation, local governments have been determined to bring resources to the people in a more equitable way, blocking the way to hoarders and resellers.
Perhaps because of the fact that great crises generate great solutions, creative outlets emerged, breaking schemes, but not essences. And yes, all this has also shown that it is possible to act in a more precise, organized and effective way, because certainly the shortcomings and the intensification of the blockade did not come with the COVID-19.
There are many lessons that the pandemic leaves us and among them, the need to strengthen communication in a society that is moving towards computerization. The constant bombardment of information by social media makes a few victims of fake news; and in turn, they replicated the lies among those who do not yet have access to the various platforms.
Given this, the national and provincial media network demonstrated its ability to be timely, transparent and explain what is necessary at the right time. But it was evident, once again, that it is not an exclusive work of the press; Institutions must have an effective communication system, not as a collateral aspect, but as an inherent part of the processes. People need to be well informed, and communication failures not only interfere but can undermine the effort of many.
These days, there has also been stress, caused by the uncertainty of a practically unknown disease that triggered immediate responses and taught us to take better care of ourselves. Hygienic-sanitary measures became part of everyday life and a parapet not only in the face of the “coronabug,” but also for other conditions for which the perception of risk is low. Hopefully, that is one of the enduring learning.
To those who from the outside remained skeptical or predicted that Cuba would not resist the onslaught of a virus that caused the health systems of developed countries to collapse; there is the answer: a people moving towards recovery. However, it is not time to let the guard down; on the contrary, we must maintain the measures to avoid outbreaks, only this way we will embrace the definitive victory.
