THIS IS possibly the quietest and most stunning of Cuba’s revolutions since Fidel Castro overthrew Batista’s military dictatorship in 1958. There have been other revolutions in the tiny nation over the decades—in public health, in medical internationalism (where doctors were sent to countries in need) and most impressively in its biotechnology sector. Even so, the development of five vaccines to fight the sars-cov-2 virus that causes COVID-19, three of which have been deployed to vaccinate 93 per cent of its population, is an unparalleled feat.
This has been largely unnoticed by the global media, which was focused almost entirely on the newfangled and expensive mrna vaccines brought out by the likes of Pfizer and upstart company Moderna, and was writing paeans about their bosses. Science journal Nature was one of the earliest to spot the breakthroughs made by Cuba's Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and Finlay Institute of Vaccines. Towards the middle of 2021, a couple of news agencies began to report on the good news emanating from Havana, piquing interest as Cuba sent vaccines to some countries.
This story is from the February 01, 2022 edition of Down To Earth.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 01, 2022 edition of Down To Earth.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
