Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel attended the reopening on Thursday of the National Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired — an institution founded 36 years ago by the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro.
The ceremony took place in the municipality of Bejucal, in the province of Mayabeque, coinciding with the anniversary of the center’s original inauguration on October 22, 1990.
In the center’s guestbook, Díaz-Canel noted that the institution was born from the humanistic vision of Fidel Castro, affirming that its reopening serves as a testament to commitment, continuity, and the defense of social justice.
The president remarked that the initiative has been sustained by principles such as political will and solidarity — core tenets of the Cuban revolutionary process.
The facility has resumed operations following a structural renovation. In this initial phase, it will focus its efforts on training specialized instructors who will extend visual rehabilitation programs to communities across the country.
During the event, Jorge Luis Cala, president of the National Association of the Blind (ANCI), stated that the center will continue to develop programs to foster the social inclusion of individuals with visual impairments. He also announced new projects aimed at providing care for people who are deafblind.
Furthermore, he noted that the curricula and methodological materials used for training and rehabilitation have been updated.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Jesús Otamendiz, reaffirmed the Cuban state’s commitment to strengthening inclusion policies and highlighted the role of special education within the nation’s educational system. Furthermore, it denounced the limitations caused by the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States, particularly regarding the acquisition of technologies, equipment and supplies intended for people with disabilities.
The ANCI, founded in 1975, carries out rehabilitation, training, and social integration programs aimed at thousands of visually impaired people throughout the nation.
[ SOURCE: PRENSA LATINA ]
