The leading role of several production units in Las Tunas in the rescue of rural communities or villages goes beyond harvesting various crops or collecting milk, meat, and eggs because one of the principles of cooperatives in Cuba is that of social responsibility.

This is the case of the Elpidio Casimiro Sosa González Credit and Service Cooperative (CCS), in the town of Vázquez, whose board of directors takes advantage of local development opportunities to diversify production and be more useful for its members and neighbors.

These days, its contribution to the rehabilitation of the pharmacy in that town in the municipality of Puerto Padre is remarkable, a gesture that exalts the precepts of the entity's management and honors the teachings of the Support Project for Agricultural Intercooperation (APOCOOP).

For its improvement, the facility has a budget of more than 100 thousand pesos, but it is insufficient for the many tasks that need to be done. Therefore, the CCS assumes the work with part of its funds and the resources it obtains from its mini-industry of construction materials, thanks to the linkage with the Stainless-Steel Company (ACINOX Las Tunas in Spanish).

BLACK SLAG IS A WIN-WIN SITUATION

In many countries of the world, residues from the metallurgical industry are used to repair roads. This idea came to fruition among the members of the Puertopadrense production unit and after the black slag, as it is known, they established commercial relations with ACINOX.

"The cooperative was the first entity to be interested in this waste and we signed a contract for the stable supply of the product, which is useful for both parties", as expressed by the Master of Science Jorge Luis León Hernández, Director of Logistics, Procurement, and Sales.

"We attach great importance to this productive chaining because we apply the circular economy, which allows other companies and non-state management forms to reuse the waste generated in our processes for their benefit and that of the community.

"In many entities, it is possible to provide solutions to different problems in the radius of action and for that purpose, CCS has been very opportune for the management of its mini-industry of construction materials, in which alternative cement and other products are obtained, from the slag."

PILLAR FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAM IN PUERTO PADRE

In the last months, the "Elpidio Sosa" has consolidated relations with the Municipal Housing Directorate in the northern territory, without neglecting the attention to the cooperative members and their families, according to Wilmer Espinosa Vargas, president of the CCS.

"In coordination with that entity, work was done by the different popular councils (CP) of the municipality, in the diagnosis of the most urgent needs, to contribute to eradicating dirt floors. With satisfaction, we can say that more than 110 families have already benefited."

He said that more progress has been made in Maniabón, due to the good reception of the idea among the main local leaders. By the way, Laureano García Peña, president of the PC, pointed out that the Community Work Group takes into account the real needs of the families.

He pointed out that there is adequate control of these resources and acknowledged the initiative of the unit to solve problems present in the neighborhoods. He praised the collective's futuristic vision and its willingness to take advantage of waste resources from another entity.

Espinosa Vargas added that they produce various types of gravel, stone dust, and other items that benefit the associates. He highlighted the interest in growing alternative materials such as blocks and floor slabs, despite the limitations in the transfer of slag due to the lack of fuel.

"Little by little we have demonstrated the usefulness of the product and we did not give up on fixing the surroundings of Vazquez Park. In addition, we made about 600 meters of the access road to the cooperative, and, as people see what is being done, confidence in us will grow."

A NICER AND MORE USEFUL PHARMACY

The Vázquez Pharmacy is gradually being transformed and in this renovation of its infrastructure are the hands and savings of the CCS collective, determined to extend the usefulness of its management, beyond a cassava cake, a bunch of bananas, or a piece of meat.

Luis Carlos Jomarrón Rivero, director of the North base business unit (UEB), belonging to the Company of Pharmacies and Opticians in Las Tunas, acknowledged the work of the CCS and said that among the repair and maintenance actions stand out the placement of blinds and floor and the resurfacing of walls.

"The internal storage room for medicines and a bathroom are also being built, and an area for the storage of natural oxygen cylinders is being set up. This is very important because 16 family doctor's and nurse practitioner's offices are located on the premises, with a total of more than 14,000 patients.

"Likewise, the programs for the dispensation of basic medicines, Natural and Traditional Medicine, and dignified death, through which the supply of natural oxygen is guaranteed to patients who require it, will be improved."

Developing social works for the benefit of the community is a mission of the CCS, which is carried out with the use of available resources, the application of science and technology, and the determination to be always useful for the development of the territory.