In an on-line meeting last July 9, Cuban scientist and project leader at Havana Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) dr. Julio Cesar Aguilar (photo above left) introduced to us HEBERNASVAC.
A novel Cuban vaccine administered bynosespray (instead of injections) which immunizes against Hepatitis B and has good perspectives to definitive cure of chronic Hepatitis B, cause of much liver cancer or cirrhose. Dr. Aguilar explained the broader effect and had proved it to be superior to, and much cheeper than usual therapy It is of major importance for developing countries with basal medical infrastructure (worldwide 254 million people suffer chronic HBV). Prof. Jan Nouwen (Erasmus University Rotterdam, photo above right) and prof. Emily Morris (University College London, photo above middle) were interested to explore starting trials in their Medical Universities.
In the same meeting, Miriam de Leede Nurse Practitioner and PhD-candidate at Buurtzorg Netherlands (organisation of 950 nurse teams) , explained about methods, strategy and implementation of their Cuba inspired innovative neighborhood prevention program. Based on proposals from local resident-groups , 28 “self-steering” nurse-teams with local residents “in the lead”, realize concrete actions for better health in their neighborhood. A promising and novel approach of community medicine .Prof.Imti Choonara > editor at BMJ Pediatrics Open, offered to support it when it comes to a publication.
Recently Dutch dr.Menne Bartelsman (Public Health dept. Amsterdam) who did an internship in ENSAP and Pero Kouri Institute in Havana last year, finished his research comparing Cuban and Dutch vaccination programmes for childern. He concluded the Cuban programmme superior in organization and effects. (Dutch version can be requested from ppmjonas@gmail.com )