Daughter of Ernesto Che Guevara and revolutionary Aleida March, Cuban doctor Aleida Guevara grew up close to central figures of the Cuban Revolution. Among them was Fidel Castro, whom he called “uncle”. In an exclusive interview with Brazil in factshe recalls this coexistence and talks about Cuba ten years after the death of the revolutionary leader.
Aleida says that, as a baby, she was under the care of Celia Sánchez during the bombings that preceded the invasion of the Bay of Pigs. One of his first contacts with Fidel took place during this period. Later, he followed different moments of his life and even introduced himself to Aleida’s eldest daughter as “grandfather Fidel”.
A pediatrician, she also highlights the construction of the public health system as one of the main achievements of the Revolution, based on prevention, universality and free access. In the interview, he also recalls a discussion with Fidel about the family doctor model.
Aleida also comments on the Cuban gift. It recognizes the economic difficulties, the population’s doubts and the risk of increasing inequalities. He admits that some alternatives adopted today may prove to be wrong, but says that it is “necessary to give a vote of confidence” and defends that the country seeks new answers without abandoning socialism.
“We need to invent, we need to create, we need to see how we can get out of the hole we are in without ever losing the perspective of a socialist society”, he states.
“The people have the last word”
When remembering Fidel’s death, Aleida describes a Cuba plunged into a silence it had never witnessed. According to her, the leader was seen by an important part of the population also as “father”, “uncle”, “older brother” and “friend”.
In the final stretch of the interview, she addresses the limits of economic changes in Cuba and the risks to social equality, sovereignty and the socialist project. Aleida says that the measures will need to be tested and that the population has the right to doubts and criticism. “The people have the last word.”
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Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
