CUBANEWS FROM RADIO HAVANA CUBA January 6, 1998 rhc@radiohc.org http://www.radiohc.org The following items are taken from Radio Havana Cuba's news service for Tuesday, January 6, 1998. Today's stories: 1.- INFANT MORTALITY IN 1997: LOWEST IN HISTORY! 2.- CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO AND VICE PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO PRESENTED AWARDS TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF HAVANA UNIVERSITY 3.- NORDIC BRIGADE AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR CUBAN REVOLUTION 4.- JURY FOR THE CASA DE LAS AMERICAS PRIZE SET UP IN HAVANA 5.- CUBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL OPEN PROVINCIAL OFFICES 6.- CUBAN LIGHT INDUSTRY REGISTERED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN 1997 7.- MORE HOUSES FOR CUBAN SUGARCANE WORKERS INFANT MORTALITY IN 1997: LOWEST IN HISTORY! Havana, January 6(RHC)-- Cuba ended 1997 with an infant mortality rate of 7.1 per 1000 live births -- the lowest in the country's history. The record figure was attributed to the hard work of more than 300,000 health workers involved in the mother-child program across the island, family doctors, gynecologists, obstetricians, nurses and other health experts. Cuba has been reducing its infant mortality rate in recent years, despite the economic crisis triggered by the collapse of the Soviet Union and Eastern European socialist countries and the tightening of the U.S. economic blockade. In 1989, before the beginning of the crisis, the island registered an infant mortality rate of 11.2 per 1000 live births. Two years later -- in 1991 -- that health indicator had dropped to 10.7. By 1995, infant mortality had further decreased to 9.4 deaths per 1000 live births. Cuba also stands among the 25 top nations of the world regarding infant mortality -- from birth to five years of age -- with an average of only nine deaths per one thousand children annually... a figure that in some Third World countries reaches up to 88. CUBAN PRESIDENT FIDEL CASTRO AND VICE PRESIDENT RAUL CASTRO PRESENTED AWARDS TO MARK ANNIVERSARY OF HAVANA UNIVERSITY Havana, January 6(RHC)-- Cuban President Fidel Castro and Army General Raul Castro were granted a commemorative plaque marking the 270th anniversary of the University of Havana. A resolution also granted the same plaque to other cultural and educational figures at a ceremony attended by 1500 Havana University professors. On Monday, rectors from the Universities of Barcelona, Castilla-La Mancha and Valencia's Politechnical University from Spain, San Carlos University from Guatemala and other international representatives visited the site where the Cuban institution had its first building -- on the corner of Obispo and Mercaderes Streets in Old Havana. The capital's historian, Eusebio Leal, made a special presentation. Cuba's University Students Federation, the FEU -- which has represented the struggle of the island's university students for many years -- also presented awards to the most outstanding professors at the university's 15 faculties. The Provincial Assembly of People's Power in Havana presented the University of Havana with a replica of La Giraldilla, the city's most cherished symbol and its highest distinction. NORDIC BRIGADE AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR CUBAN REVOLUTION Havana, January 6(RHC)-- Members of the 29th Contingent of the Nordic Brigade ratified their friendship and support for the Cuban people after winding up a 15-day visit to the Caribbean island. During their stay in Cuba, the brigade members worked in the fields and visited sites of social, economic and historic interest. On behalf of the brigadistas, British Vafeerha Faroog said that "Cuba represents the hope of millions throughout the world." She highlighted the island's gains in the areas of health, education and social security. The Vice President of the Cuba-Nordic Countries Friendship Association, Enrique Nunez, said that there are people in European countries that "join their hands and hearts to express their solidarity with the Cuban people." JURY FOR THE CASA DE LAS AMERICAS PRIZE SET UP IN HAVANA Havana, January 6(RHC)-- The jury for the Casa de las Americas Literary Prize was officially set up in Havana Monday. The Havana-based Casa de las Americas Cultural Institution was established in Havana in l959. The 25 jury members of one of the continent's most prestigious literary prizes will evaluate 490 unpublished works by authors from 25 countries, who are competing in different literary genres such as poetry, theater, essay, Caribbean literature in English or Creole and a special prize on the impact of l898 in the Americas and the Hispanic world. The jurors, who include renowned intellectuals from Spain, Mexico, Chile, the United States, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Argentina and Cuba, began reading sessions Tuesday in the western Cuban city of Matanzas. Their decisions will be announced next January 15th. CUBAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL OPEN PROVINCIAL OFFICES Havana, January 6(RHC)-- The President of the Cuban Chamber of Commerce, Carlos Martinez Salsamendi, said that his group will open five territorial offices in the provinces beginning later this month. Salsamendi noted that this expansion is the result of the decentralization of the island's trade and added that the new branches are aimed at facilitating negotiations and services and will benefit the Chamber's clients. The new delegations will be located in eastern Santiago de Cuba, Holguin, Las Tunas and Camaguey and another one on the island's central provinces. WORKERS BUILD CHAPEL FOR POPE IN PLAZA DE LA REVOLUCION Havana, January 6(RHC)-- The construction of a chapel in which Pope John Paul II will deliver Mass in Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion next January 25th will be concluded shortly. Workers report that a number of foreign tourists visiting the island and curious local residents are touring the little sanctuary under construction for the Pontiff's visit, scheduled to begin January 21st. In related news, the Pope sent a congratulatory message to Cuban President Fidel Castro on the occasion of the 39th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution -- wishing the Cuban leader and people peace and social prosperity. During his stay on the island, Pope John Paul II will also deliver Masses in the cities of Santa Clara, Camaguey and Santiago de Cuba, and will participate in other social and religious activities. CUBAN LIGHT INDUSTRY REGISTERED SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN 1997 Havana, January 6(RHC)-- The Cuban Light Industry Ministry wound up 1997 with an eight percent growth rate over the previous year, resulting from better quality products and more efficient management. According to Light Industry Minister Jesus Perez Otton, during 1997 his entity was able to place more than 85 million dollars worth of merchandise in the island's dollar stores and 100 million pesos worth of products on the industrial markets, which operate in national currency. Jesus Perez Otton said that during 1998, the island's light industry hopes to double exports, primarily to the Caribbean, and diversify its offer to another 20 nations where such items already have a secure market. Otton noted that important investments will be made to modernize the textile and shoe industries. MORE HOUSING CONSTRUCTION FOR CUBAN SUGARCANE WORKERS Havana, January 6(RHC)-- More than 7000 houses were built for the island's sugar industry workers during 1997 -- part of a national program aimed at increasing the number of houses for this year. The areas that excelled in this program were the island's eastern provinces, with the construction of nearly one thousand houses. The Cuban sugar industry began a recovery program during this year's harvest which should bring its first fruit in l999. [c] 1997. Radio Habana Cuba All rights reserved Articles cannot be reproduced, reprinted or published in any system without the consent of RHC. This prohibition includes the distribution of this material via Usenet News, "bulletin board" services, e-mail lists, print media, radio and television. For the complete RADIO HAVANA CUBA NEWSCAST and other features, please write for our daily broadcast schedule. We welcome your comments and suggestions. For further information, contact us at: Postal Address: Radio Havana Cuba P.O.Box 6240 Havana, Cuba Telephone: (53) (7) 814243 Fax: (53) (7) 812927 E-mail: rhc@radiohc.org WWW: http://www.radiohc.org