Lage spoke about the steady advance of the government program implemented to repair and build new polyclinics across the island. He said that this initiative will help reorganize the family doctor program in type I and II offices, and will fully guarantee public healthcare at a time when Cuba has an ample body of healthcare professionals providing international collaboration around the world.

The new polyclinic has a capacity to attend some 23,000 patients and will provide services such as endoscopy, minor surgeries, ultrasounds, traumatology, abortions and X rays.

Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Pérez Roque also attended the inauguration and both leaders also attended the start up of the Complejo Azucarero Antonio Sánchez polyclinic and a Senior Citizens Center in the community of Caunao. Lage spoke about the importance of these centers at a time when the Cuban population is aging, with 16 percent of citizens over the age of 60.

The minister of the Food Industry, Alejandro Roca Iglesias, joined Lage and Perez Roque for the opening of a pasta factory that will provide employment for workers from the closed down Martha Abreu sugar mill.

Finally, the two leaders visited a state farm to learn about the progress of several local projects, including the renovation of schools, the revitalization of the farming sector in the area and the installation of a carbon dioxide plant in Augada de Pasajeros.

(PL)