On Wednesday, the Brazilian Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) delivered 7.6 tons of antibiotics and other medicines to the Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital in Havana, Cuba. The donation was collected through ‘Aid to Cuba,’ a campaign launched in 2025 to raise funds and send medicines to the island nation, which continues to suffer under arbitrary U.S. sanctions.

MST activist Marcelo Durao stressed that this is a permanent campaign, not a one-off gesture. ‘It is important to say that this is a permanent campaign. This will not be the last donation,’ he said, noting that ‘Aid to Cuba’ brings together many organizations, public figures, and individuals in solidarity.

Durao highlighted the broad grassroots effort behind the delivery: ‘The MST maintains a direct dialogue with Cuba, but behind this campaign there are many people in Brazil making an enormous effort to ensure that these donations reach the Cuban people.’ He added, ‘We stand with you and will continue together. We believe the U.S. blockade is unjust and that the situation Cuba is experiencing is a true form of war.’

Francisco Santos de Sousa, a member of the MST’s leadership, placed the donation within a long history of solidarity actions. ‘This campaign to collect medicines and medical supplies is just one of the many actions that the Brazilian people and the Landless Workers’ Movement have promoted in solidarity with the Cuban people, because their struggle is also our struggle,’ he said. ‘For us, Cuba represents hope, not only for our people, but also for all those who fight against imperialism anywhere in the world.’

Since the beginning of 2026, the tightening of the U.S. blockade and the energy squeeze promoted by President Donald Trump have had severe consequences for Cuba’s health care system. According to the outlet Brasil de Fato, U.S. sanctions currently hinder both the import of medicines and access to raw materials needed by Cuba’s pharmaceutical industry, leading to widespread shortages in hospitals and health centers.

In response to these U.S.-induced restrictions, Cuban authorities have concentrated hospitals’ operational capacity almost exclusively on emergency care. The latest data from the Health Ministry shows a waiting list of 96,000 patients, including more than 11,000 children awaiting surgery.

On Wednesday, Health Minister Jose Portal underscored the significance of the donation, calling it a reaffirmation of solidarity between Cuba and Brazil. ‘The Landless Workers’ Movement, true to its history of internationalist commitment, once again extends its generous hand to Cuba,’ he said. ‘The MST reminds us that the struggle for life and dignity knows no borders and that, in the most difficult moments, peoples reach out to one another to save lives.’

The Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital is the largest hospital in Cuba and a leading referral center for highly complex surgical procedures, organ transplants, oncology, and other advanced clinical specialties, as reported by Brasil de Fato.

This act of solidarity comes at a critical time, as the U.S. blockade continues to strangle Cuba’s medical system. The MST’s commitment to a permanent campaign offers a glimmer of hope for the Cuban people, who face daily challenges in accessing essential medicines and care.

The delivery of these 7.6 tons of medicines is a powerful reminder that international solidarity can transcend borders and political differences. As the MST activist put it, the struggle for life and dignity knows no borders, and in the most difficult moments, peoples reach out to one another to save lives.

This story was originally reported by telesurenglish.net, citing Brasil de Fato.