Cuba for Haiti Fundraiser in Kingston

In response to the horrendous suffering of the Haitian people resulting
from the earthquake and its aftershocks, many Canadians are looking for
the most effective way to provide aid. The Canadian Cuban Friendship
Association of Kingston (CCFA- K) strongly endorses donations to the
*Cuba for Haiti *fundraising campaign of the Canadian Network on Cuba
(CNC), which is the national umbrella organization representing
Canada-Cuba friendship groups across the country.

LOCAL INITIATIVE

CCFA-Kingston is supporting the Cuba for Haiti campaign. On February
11, CCFA-K presents Cuban legend, Leoni Torres. Leoni and his 8-piece
band will delight Latin music lovers and dancers with a show at the
Confederation Place Hotel, 231 Ontario St. Tickets are available at Tara
Natural Foods and Brian's Record Option. All profits and donations will
go to the *Cuba for Haiti *campaign.

BACKGROUND

Cuba , a close neighbour of Haiti with a large Haitian population of its
own, has an unequalled record in helping people in crises such as the
earthquake in Pakistan and natural disasters in many other countries. In
fact, Cuba has created a special emergency unit, the Henry Reeve Medical
Brigade, to respond quickly to such disasters. A frequent victim of
hurricanes, Cuba has developed the best disaster preparedness system in
the world, resulting in very little loss of life due to hurricanes.

At the time of the earthquake, Cuba already had 400 workers, 300 of them
medical personnel in the country helping Haitians. These Cubans,
alongside many of the 500 Haitian doctors who had been trained in Cuba
free of charge, formed the essential early group of livesavers,
attending to the injured in the first 24 hours after the disaster. They
have effectively continued their work, boosted by an additional medical
brigade which arrived promptly from Cuba .

Working in Haiti since 1998, Cuba knows the country and its problems
well, In addition to its medical assistance through a comprehensive
health program, it co-operates with Haiti in other sectors such as
agriculture, energy, fisheries, communication and education. Thousands
of Haitians have achieved literacy with Cuba 's help.

For information on how to donate to the *Cuba for Haiti *fundraising
campaign and receive a charitable tax receipt, go to the CNC website
www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca <http://www.canadiannetworkoncuba.ca/>

100% of all donations will be used for medical support and aid to Haiti