From: dyer@spdcc.com (Steve Dyer)
Subject: Re: AIDS conference in Cuba
Note: Copyright 1992, Dan R. Greening. Non-commercial reproduction allowed.
Archive-Number: 6021
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1992 23:28:37 GMT

In article <1992Aug26.210803.1070@cs.ucla.edu> crosenberg@igc.apc.org (Charlie Rosenberg) writes:
>Havana,August 20 (RHC)-- In the midst of a global AIDS epidemic
>Cuba counts as one of the countries least affected by the crisis.
>Though Cuba has a population of nearly ll million, extensive HIV
>testing has revealed only 826 seropositive persons. That puts the
>island's seroprevalance rate at a low 6 per l0 000 inhabitants.

Well, it's amazing what you can make up when you control the
reporting of the figures.  _No one_ has any reason to believe
that Cuba's figures are this low.  That fact that its propaganda
organ can still pump out this kind of Stalinist trash with a
straight face (i.e., expect to be believed) is pretty remarkable.

>In Octorber, Havana will host an International seminar on the HIV
>infection and the island's AIDS policy.

"Propaganda opportunity."

>One of the event's organizers epidemiologist, Dr. Rigoberto Torres,
>told RHC that the agenda will focus on Cuba's policy of quarantine for
>HIV positive patients,

Well, they couldn't get away with covering it up, because it's too
well known.  So they're going to try to make a virtue out of it.
It won't fly, unless the flacks they've invited from elsewhere
to attend this dog-and-pony show spend too much time on the beach.

>blood screening for the HIV-1 and for HIV-2-
>which began a few weeks ago and specialized treatments.

Huh?

>Dr. Torres noted that the seminar would look closely at Cuba's
>experience with INTERFERON--a protein obtained through genetic
>engineering techniques that has proved effective in preventing
>AIDS-related diseases.

This is news?

>Most of the island's AIDS and seropositive patients--more
>than 600--live in ll HIV sanatorioums across the island.

Prisons.

>There they receive specialized medical care, special diet and living
>conditions--all free of charge.

God, it really makes me retch to read this.  What vile disingenuousness.
And Americans at igc.org are disseminating it!  When you sit in wonderment
just look back at the CPUSA members who held fast to the ideal of their
workers' paradise in the USSR, even as Stalin's atrocities were becoming
known.  The capacity for self-deception knows no bounds.

>Dr. Rigoberto Torres notes that
>over l50 scientists and physicians from all over the world have
>already confirmed their participation in the upcoming conference.

I guess most already spent their budget on the Amsterdam conference.

>So far, Cuba has conducted l2, 465, 130 AIDS tests.

8 significant digits?

>A new AIDS sanatorium will open its doors shortly in central
>Cienfuegos province. The facility will have  an outpatient
>clinic, a dental office, a Psychology Department, a library, and
>entertainment rooms.

Perhaps right around the time of the conference?

>Cuba's AIDS program also includes ten other
>AIDS sanatoriums distributed in almost all of its 14 provinces.

Prisons.

-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@ursa-major.spdcc.com aka {ima,harvard,rayssd,linus,m2c}!spdcc!dyer
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids