-DATE- 19810111 -YEAR- 1981 -DOCUMENT_TYPE- SPEECH -AUTHOR- F. CASTRO -HEADLINE- INAUGURATION OF HOSPITAL IN MANZANILLO -PLACE- CUBA -SOURCE- HAVANA DOMESTIC SVC -REPORT_NBR- FBIS -REPORT_DATE- 19810113 -TEXT- FIDEL CASTRO INAUGURATES HOSPITAL IN MANZANILLO FL112253 Havana Domestic Service in Spanish 2141 GMT 11 Jan 81 [Speech by Cuban President Fidel Castro at inauguration of hospital in Manzanillo, Granma Province--live] [Text] Compatriots of Manzanillo and Granma. [applause] I do not know how the microphones or loudspeakers are working. I have heard that they cannot be heard over there. You still cannot hear? [crowd shouts "Yes"] Well, I am going to ask the ones who cannot hear that they maintain discipline, particularly on that little corner over there [Castro points to his right]. Let them wait to read the speech in the newspaper tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. But let us maintain order. Are you not saying that you are going to organize and join the territorial troops militia? [shouts of "Yes"] Well then, let us behave as militiamen of the territorial troops. [applause] We finally have had the satisfaction of inaugurating this magnificent hospital project. If you like, I could begin by recalling some of the history of public health here in Granma; or in Bayamo, for example, which already had a hospital in 1514 but it advanced little since then. In 1958, it only had the Milanes General Hospital with 65 beds and 5 doctors to take care of a population of more than 140,000. A similar situation existed in Manzanillo with its Caimari Hospital which was receiving a budget from the state of only 7,000 pesos annually and the rundown civilian hospital which likewise was receiving a meager budget. There were some private clinics in both cities. Those clinics, a total of 11, were better equipped but inaccessible to the great masses of poor people who found it financially impossible to resort to that horrible medical market. If this was occurring in the province's two principal cities, the situation in the rural areas--which had the largest land surface and population--was much more disastrous since, in addition to a few isolated doctors without resources, there was only a small number of beds in Niquero, Charco Redondo and Jiguani. The total number of beds was around 40. The number of qualified dental personnel was 39, who also were concentrated in the principal cities and devoted to private practice. There existed practically no technical graduate personnel in any specialty. Empirically trained personnel were used but in small numbers. Prevention activities were nil since there only existed the public health headquarters which primarily were concerned with false sanitation and epidemiological measures for the purpose of obtaining gains from merchants, foodstuff sellers and so forth. Vaccination was practically unknown, and if some doctors practiced it, they did it with the well-off sector of the population which could pay. To cite an example, polio immunization cost 15 pesos. Most of the doctors practiced general medicine. In other words, they took care of all patients regardless of sex, age or illness. Most of the cases were taken care of by means of surgical treatment which was the most profitable, even if there was no justification for surgery. In other words, sometimes they performed operations for business when there was no need for the operations. Actually, there were no specialized hospital services, auxiliary diagnostic resources or any quality, even for those who paid for the services of private clinics. As a result of the dramatic realities I have pointed out, of the total abandonment of the peasant population and town and city workers, and for the extraordinary contribution which the people of these regions--and very especially the peasants of Sierra Maestra--made to the revolutionary struggle, the revolution made a special effort to improve the health conditions of both regions, beginning with the creation of the rural medical service in 1959 and through the construction of numerous hospitals and rural dispensaries and establishment of medical stations in the most isolated areas. Eleven rural hospitals and more than 16 dispensaries have been built and more than 40 doctors were assigned to rural areas. Actually, public health was practically nonexistent and it was absolutely lacking in the rural areas. Special attention also was given to the existing hospital services in both cities. The Milanes General Hospital in Bayamo was expanded with a pediatric ward. The general hospital was inaugurated in Manzanillo and the Caimari Hospital was expanded and modified, thereby increasing the number of beds and services. A noteworthy effort was made with auxiliary diagnostic resources and a notable improvement was reached with them as a result of the nationalization of the private clinics, which resulted in the assignment of numerous specialists and doctors. To this was added the integral improvement of all health services of a preventive and treatment nature and the extraordinary integral network which the revolution created and developed. Some comparative data should be highlighted which reflect the growing development of public health in this province since 1959 to date. The total population of this province is 735,735. And from what I can see, a considerable part of them are here this afternoon, although only the city of Manzanillo was mobilized. The population of ages 0 to 14 is 278,729. Its surface, just in case some of you do not know it, is 8,457 sq km. It has a population density of 87 inhabitants per sq km. There are many of us. Doctors: Through out the province there were 109 doctors, and only 16 worked part-time in the hospitals of the state. There were 16 doctors providing public health service for the state. And everything else was private practice. We currently have [in the province] 420 doctors and all of them working for the people. [applause] In 1958 were 39 dentists, practically all in private practice. There are 121 at present and all of them are working for the people. [applause] Nursing personnel in the province: There were 20 in 1958. In 1980, there were 1,052, [applause] 427 nurses and 625 nursing aides. Middle level technicians excluding nurses: There were 10 in the whole province. In 1980, there were 769. [applause] The total beds in medical assistance units, including hospitals, makeshift clinics [timbiriches], private clinics, the whole lot--there were 513. Of these, 255 were state owned. In 1980, there were 2,672 beds. [applause] Births in institutions: 10 percent in 1958, 98.8 percent in 1980. [applause] You know that even the peasant women who live in the furthest reaches of the Sierra come to the hospital to give birth. That is, if they can make it in time. [laughter] Infant mortality: This is an estimate because you know what statistics were like then. With the shortage of physicians, technicians, nurses, hospitals--well, you can imagine what epidemics were then. However, the estimate--very probably much below the actual figure--was 120 per 1,000. This was in 1958. In 1980 the figure was 22.2 per 1,000. [applause] Nevertheless, this is slightly above the national average, which is below 20. Pharmacies: At present we have 78. No one knows how many there were in 1958. Homes for the elderly: There was one in 1958. There are three now. The following services or institutions did not exist in the province: There were no dental clinics in 1958, there are seven now; no policlinics in 1958, 19 in 1980; no sanitation and epidemiology laboratories in 1958, two in 1980; no rural hospitals in 1958, 8 in 1980; no rural dispensaries in 1958, 17 in 1980; no maternity homes in 1958, 13 in 1980; no nursing and middle-level technical schools in 1958, two in 1980; no blood banks in 1958, two in 1980; no orthopedic prostheses laboratories in 1958, one in 1980; no dental prostheses laboratories in 1958, one in 1980; no optical shops in 1958, five in 1980. There were no higher level students then. There are now. There were no middle- level medical students in 1958. There were 1,200 students in 1980. The figures are here. Some of them are a bit long. For example, 2,279,661 outpatient visits were made in 1980. That is, three per inhabitant. Hospitalizations numbered 80,540. Hospitalizations per 100 inhabitants: 10.9 maternity visits: 9.7 per pregnancy. That is where the struggle to save a life begins. Stomatological visits: 448,767. Major surgery in 1980: 10,910 operations. BCG vaccinations among the newborn: 99.8. This shows the huge gap between health facilities prior to the revolution and those today. Around 40 medical specialties are available in the province. Eleven of these specialties became available with this new hospital in Manzanillo. The inauguration of this hospital is the culmination of the process to develop health services which for 22 years the revolution has pushed in Manzanillo and Bayamo. It is not a matter only of inaugurating a superb hospital facility with the most up-to-date resources, highly qualified specialists and technical personnel. This hospital is part of an extraordinary network of assistant preventive services that is developing many health programs, extensively covering the whole province, whose main results are shown in the significant health rates registered in Granma Province at present. This hospital is the principal hospital unit of this vast network. It ensures the highest level of assistance and is also the place to train physicians and specialists for the whole region. This center will also provide employment for 976 workers, including health and services personnel. It provides 19 clinical and surgical specialties. It has intensive and intermediate care units. It has 33 examination rooms and 13 rooms for first aid and tests. They are able to attend to 1,584 patients a day in 23 different specialties. Of the total cost of this hospital, 5 million pesos were spent in very modern and very exact equipment for diagnosis and treatment. At present, 296 beds are already in use. This is 146 more beds than the predecessor, the Fajardo Hospital, which is now being remodeled so that it can become a psychiatric hospital with 100 beds. Burn, infectious and intermediate therapy cases are already being hospitalized. Modern techniques are being applied in x-rays and laboratories. These were not available in Manzanillo before. The hospital now has a staff of 688 workers, including 78 physicians, most of them specialists, and 115 nursing personnel, including 26 general graduate nurses and 15 with post-basic courses. The hospital has already attended to 14,747 outpatients. The guard service, operating rooms and the majority of diagnostic and auxiliary services are operating as planned. The schedule is being observed. Services will gradually increase as the professional and technical personnel are recruited and pending equipment is received. In the just concluded 5-year period, four policlinics, one home for the elderly, one 20-seat dental clinic and one nursing school were built in the province and work is currently underway on the Manzanillo Polytechnical Health Institute with a capacity for 800 students as well as on a large number of expansions which give us a much better material base to plan health programs and continue this notable development of the province's public health services. We now have the hospital. We have part of the staff. It has been necessary to appeal to the revolutionary spirit and the solidarity of many physicians and technicians who have cone from various parts of the republic. There is a large number of physicians from the capital among them. I have asked several workers and comrade nurses whether they are from Manzanillo, whether the nurses are from Manzanillo or not. I found out to my satisfaction that many are from Manzanillo, many of the workers are from Manzanillo. And some physicians are from Manzanillo. I believe that some day you will not only have all the physicians you need here from the province itself, but you will be able to send physicians to other provinces. Perhaps to Baracoa, right? That would be one instance. Although a hospital just like this one will be inaugurated shortly in the area of Guantanamo. Medical facilities are being set up in practically all the provinces. And, of course, Granma Province will have its own. [applause] Many nurses have already taken the nursing course in the province. There is a course under way right now. I understand that some 70 or 80 students are attending this course. There are several hundreds in the nursing school in Bayamo. So, I believe that the Manzanillo people themselves--as specialists, technicians, qualified personnel and, in the future, as physicians and medical specialists--will be the ones providing health services in this province. I believe progress in this area is not only demonstrated by the infant mortality rates, the number of cases, but also by the large number of Manzanillo people who have trained in the health field and by future prospects. Of course, it is now much more difficult to lower infant mortality from 22 per 1,000 to 18, 17, 15 than it is to have come down from 120 to 22. We are now reaching the limits of the possible but this does not mean that we will give up the fight to reduce infant mortality, to bring it down to the national average and below the national average. I believe that this hospital will help in this task. It will help to reduce the infant mortality rate in the 1-4 year-old group which is very low, in the 0-14 year-old range which is also generally low. It will continue to reduce mortality rates among mothers. I understand that the number of deaths while giving birth is 28 per 100,000. The struggle must go on to bring the number down by one, two or three at least. The struggle to better the rates is an unceasing one, as is, above all, the unceasing struggle to improve services and patient care. [applause] The physicians and the technical and nursing personnel know of the revolution's effort to increase hospital resources, to acquire new books--hundreds of thousands in convertible foreign exchange were spent for books which are now being distributed among physicians. Millions in convertible foreign exchange were spent to increase the number of instruments and improve hospital equipment. Money was also spent to solve the problem of uniforms for the nursing personnel. [applause] The right kind of uniform was discussed with the nurses. I remember that when this work started, there were about 500 different kinds of uniforms. Each nurse had her own There were no two nurses with the same uniform. I do not mean to say that cotton is a bad fabric but we know that it wrinkles a lot and nurses are too busy to have to iron the uniform every day. The uniforms are now made of polyester. There are two types. We have seen how the nurses are wearing their new uniforms in all the hospitals. Then there were the shoes. The right kind of shoe for the specific kind of work and even the right style, because there are those who prefer platform shoes and there are others who cannot wear this kind of shoe and need to wear shoes with heels. But they are all wearing some sort of orthopedic show. I know that the aides have asked about what they are getting. What we would like is for the comrade aides to improve, to study and not to rest until they become nurses. [applause] Even slightest problems have been all analyzed in detail. And we are working intensively to improve the situation in all the hospitals--repairs, paint, maintenance, remodeling, reconstruction and so forth. The revolutionary government intends to forge ahead with this effort. We expect a good deal from health workers. And we are certain that they will give their utmost. For example, in this magnificent hospital which is already completed, what we would like to hear is that this hospital is one of the best in the country because of its services. [applause] After completion and inauguration, what we are now interested in is in the effort of the physicians, the technicians, the nurses and all the workers to provide the Manzanillo residents, all those who come to this hospital, the best services, the best care [applause], the best treatment. This is what we ask you, the health workers present here. We must now announce the name this hospital will bear. Our party's leadership has decided that this hospital will be named after Celia Sanchez Manduley. [prolonged applause; Castro makes indistinct remarks to someone behind him] For you, people of Manzanillo, and for all the people of Cuba, the name of Celia Sanchez is well known, especially here, in this province. We cannot fail to remember the difficult days of December 1956 when we landed in Las Coloradas in that boat which later gave its name to this province--those very difficult days in the first weeks when we were reduced to a very small contingent of the members of our expedition. It is impossible to forget what Manzanillo did for us through Comrade Celia Sanchez. [applause] She was the first to establish contact between ourselves and the movement. She was the first to send us the first resources, the first money we received in the sierra and which was sorely needed. We, of course, paid for everything. If we bought a chicken or found a chicken we paid for the chicken and everything else. We even paid more than it was worth if possible. Never ever did we fail to pay for anything we acquired. The peasants wanted to give things to us as gifts. We did not accept this. There were times that places were empty on account of the repression and we left the money behind. That first money was so indispensable not only to survive but also to push on. We received that money from Manzanillo and Celia sent it to us. [applause] The first bullets we received from the outside in those days, the first grenades, the first food, the first uniforms, the first knapsacks, the "nylon" [in English; not further described], everything that our guerrillas needed at the beginning [Celia sent to us]. And it was not only material, political support, full information [that we received]. That period lasted many months. And during those months until she joined the rebel army, Comrade Celia went underground for a long time in this region, in this city of Manzanillo in particular, running extraordinary risk. They searched for her unceasingly. And I always remember how she explained how she was able to survive that persecution and do her work clandestinely. It was due to the support of the people and the humble people of Manzanillo in particular. [applause] Following the triumph, Comrade Celia Sanchez worked quietly, selflessly, for 21 years in behalf of the revolution. She was always very concerned, she was very concerned about the peasants of the Sierra Maestra, about the old combatants of the Sierra Maestra, about all those who cooperated with us. She was very concerned about the people of Manzanillo and those in Manzanillo who cooperated with the revolution. When I say Manzanillo I am thinking of Niquero, Campechuela, Pilon and the Sierra Maestra and everybody else. [applause] I believe that absolutely no one escaped her grateful memory as regards those persons who helped us in the slightest during those very difficult days. Thousands and thousands of peasants of the Sierra Maestra were taken care of when they had a problem in one way or another. That is why that name is so beloved and familiar to you, just as it is to us, the Granma expeditionaries, those of us who were able later to overcome the sethacks, the immense difficulties of the early days, and to reconstruct our small army and take it to victory. For us, for that small initial group, Manzanillo and the region of Manzanillo and the coast and the mountains are so familiar. Those were very difficult days. There was a lot of repression, crime, torture, injustice. Many hundreds and hundreds of citizens of this province, in this area, in the cities and the countryside, were assassinated. Those stories are so horrible that they are not worth repeating. Crimes and tortures were committed in the cities and the countryside, assassinations, massacres--each time that the army of the tyranny suffered a defeat they took it out on the people, murdering them in the valleys and the fields, whole families. Sometimes there were scores of peasants killed. And then they spoke of skirmishes. They said that 30 died in this skirmish, 40 in another, in (El Oro de Guisa), Ojo del Toro, Pilon and so many other places. They hardly suffered any defeat without trying afterwards to take vengeance on the peasants. We still remember that during the final offensive in the Sierra Maestra there were combat reports of hundreds of rebels killed. And reports of rebels surrendering. But I do not recall a single instance of a rebel from our troops falling prisoner. Never. And of course, at that time they had almost 500 prisoners. Over 1,000 casualties in all when they came out of the Sierra Maestra to avoid total disaster in those months of July and August 1958. And that was the information they fed the people. That is how tyrannies, bloody regimes act. And the people and the province paid dearly during this repression. And despite the difficulty, the danger, the people of this area always came through. They never hesitated. And we recall the first revolutionary strikes. And the first revolutionary strikes occurred here in Manzanillo in support of the rebel army. [applause] And there was no phase of the revolution without a very active participation of all the people of this province, especially of Manzanillo. Manzanillo was the first in all the strikes and all the uprisings. [applause] Our front then was approaching the region of Bayamo. And undoubtedly Manzanillo and Bayamo, along with the city of Santiago de Cuba, were the cities which made the biggest efforts, along with Jiguani, Baire, (Mazo), the former America and Palma. In other words, all the cities from Manzanillo to Santiago de Cuba were the ones that made the biggest effort of support for the rebel army and had the largest casualties. [applause] Many sons of these provinces also strengthened the ranks of our army. Most of them were peasants and workers of these regions. Thus, we not only landed over here on these coasts, but the immense majority of our combatants and the ones who organized the rebel army and collaborated with it were sons of Granma [Province]. Our recognition is not mere words. Our recognition and gratitude are profound and eternal to the compatriots of this province; especially, and I repeat, to our compatriots of Manzanillo. [applause] The revolution also has done something for Manzanillo. It has not been something special. It has done for Manzanillo what it was done for all the people and with people. The justice of the revolution had to reach from Cabo San Antonio to Maisi Point. The revolutionary laws have benefitted all our people throughout the island. The revolution has sought to bring action where the needs exist and to bring justice where justice was needed and to bring the work of the revolution from one end of the country to the other. Sometimes, we would ask ourselves: Have we done enough for Manzanillo? Have we done enough for Bayamo? It was not a case of favoritism. There has been no regionalism or favoritism with Granma, but work has been done. The change has been big in this city, particularly over recent years. It has new factories, new industries. It is not a case of just this hospital today. Over recent years, a teacher training school and a new hotel were built. A polyclinic now is under construction near the hospital. A health polytechnical school now is under construction. The battery factory, the sprinkler irrigation pipe factory and the candy factory were built. The stadium has been remodeled and lighting was installed. The beltway [Castro does not complete sentence] Many streets have been repaired. Yet, we know that there still remains much to be repaired. Work is being done on the aqueduct and sewage projects. The airport was too small and a new one has been built. Progress is being made, although unfortunately too slowly, on the highway that will link Manzanillo directly with the highway to Bayamo and Las Tunas and with the country's central highways. Housing units have been built. And everything that can be done will continue to be done for the city of Manzanillo. Particularly today, we feel that we are inaugurating one of the most important, useful and beneficial projects with this hospital. [applause] Today, you have demonstrated your enthusiasm with this huge rally. When we asked ourselves how the ceremony should be conducted, we decided on a mass rally. We imagined that no Manzanillo resident would want to miss the rally. We said: Please do not undertake a provincial mobilization. We asked the comrades of the party in the province to mobilize primarily the people of Manzanillo. [applause] We could not forget that we are in the midst of the sugar harvest, that the harvest has become a fundamental task of great importance for our country at this time. And we are in the midst of the harvest. Although this is Sunday, sugarcane has to be cut on Sundays, particularly so that we do not have drops in such work on Monday and Tuesday, which is one of the objectives we have for this harvest. I know that the comrades of the party invited a representation of the other municipalities-- Bayamo and others. However, it was only a representation. And we told the comrades: What we want today is that there be a big sugarcane grinding operation and that the mobilization in no way affect the harvest. That was what we asked the comrades. The comrades of the party in Granma Province did something better. They organized a complete production and services mobilization of homage to Comrade Celia Sanchez. [applause] I believe that this actually was the best way to pay homage to one who devoted herself so much to her duty without resting a single minute and without forgetting a single detail. And I sincerely believe that this is one of most deeply felt, most profound and most revolutionary tributes that can be paid to a comrade who has given his or her life for the revolution. [applause] The comrades organized that 7-day mobilization. They mobilized the masses. They mobilized the workers. They mobilized the youths and students. And they have done an extraordinary and exemplary work over these 7 days. A measure of this is what they achieved in the sugar harvest, aside from what they achieved in a number of other activities. The harvest gives a measure of what they did. Over these 7 days, the sugar mills in Granma Province performed a grinding operation of an average of 102 percent [of grinding potential]. [applause] The norm is 85 percent and they did 102 percent. This never had occurred in this province before. And precisely today, according to what the comrades explained to me and I have the figures, they told me that the mills had ground at a l24-percent rate. [applause] The report from Havana was 123 percent. So, at this time when I am speaking here, there is this slight contradiction which I expect will be clarified and corrected. But even imagining 123 percent, it is a grinding super record [applause] and an excellent bit of news for the country since the country is trying to make an optimum harvest. Actually, the harvest is developing in the most efficient and organized manner in the history of the revolution, in the 22 years of the revolution. [applause] We have toured the provinces over recent days. We talked to all the comrades about the harvest and how it is going. And there is no doubt that the harvest is going perfectly well. There is great enthusiasm in all the provinces over the successes being achieved which give a measure of the spirit of our workers and of the management and organizational abilities of our party. [applause] Levels [of harvest work] never before reached have been attained in all the provinces And this occurred on 1 January and on 2 January, on Saturday, Sunday, and the following Monday and Tuesday. Thus, in the entire country over the past 5 days the grinding rate was 97 percent [the first day], again 97 percent, 96 percent on the third day, 96 percent on the fourth day, and today, Sunday, the national grinding rate again was 97 percent. [applause] The cumulative national rate is about or almost 90 percent, despite the fact that we had days of rains, much rain, in December which created difficulties in some provinces that generally have very good grinding rates, such as Manzanillo [presumably Granma Province], Las Tunas and others. The comrades are doing excellent work in Las Tunas. The grinding rate there--where the harvest generally is difficult work--has been more than 95 percent and even more than 100 percent over many days. This is very important because perhaps the greatest effort that must be made in the sugar sector has to be done this year. We already know for sure that the harvest is going to go according to plans, and even better than planned as far as time and the use of resources is concerned because we have a huge task ahead of us: the sowing of almost 30,000 caballerias of cane. To overcome the effects of the cane smut, which did us great harm, and to try this year to entirely eliminate the variety of cane affected by this disease, which covered approximately 35,000 caballerias, of which some 17,000 are still left, we have to make an enormous effort this year. Because of this and because of economic reasons, as we already explained at the closing of the National Assembly, we have to carry out an enormous sowing operation. And this is a difficult task, a truly difficult task. We have also been analyzing the sowing situation with all of the comrades of the provinces, and there are limitations in machinery. It is true that a number of high volume extractors were purchased, but only one-third of them have arrived. Some will arrive toward the end of January, others in February and the remainder in March. And, naturally, by the end of March the lands will have to be ready. We also have to pay attention to the other agriculture areas, pasture grounds, vegetables, tobacco, rice and so forth. The machinery, considering the planting plan we should prepare, will be scarce. This will demand a special effort. In supplying spare parts, in loading and unloading spare parts and in the work shops. We must make huge efforts because the sugar machinery will have to work day and night in the next few months, to be able to fulfill this plan. At this time I feel that this is a large problem. The planting that we are going to have to accomplish will involve 30,000 caballerias of cane. And this province is among those that have to make a huge effort. It is going to receive 45 high-volume extractors, but right now it has only 15. It is missing 30 extractors. When will it receive them? It might take a few weeks, and they have to be preparing the land needed. The extent to which we finish the harvest early will determine how we will be able to fulfill our sowing plans. Because after the preparation of the land we must sow, and we must make our sowing the best, too. And along with this we must carry out the activities of cultivation, fertilization and cleaning of the cane. We could affirm that as far as the effort the country has to make in the next 5 years is concerned, these 6 months are decisive in a decisive branch of the economy, which is that of the sugar industry, to achieve the increase in sugar that we need for the 1982 harvest. That is why the news that the harvest is going well is very stimulating and assures us that, in spite of the difficulties, we will be able to face this task. There is great enthusiasm in the entire island, a great spirit in our workers. And what is happening in this harvest shows what our people can do. Now they can no longer tell us stories about the capitalists, the capitalists could do things, in the midst of unemployment and hunger, at a time when they did not use machines to cut cane, when everything was done by hand and with animals. When cane production is mechanized one still has to face the problems of the weather, the problems of the rains. The trucks then have to (?cross) the fields on their own power, not like a wagon pulled by oxen could. The combine needs more or less dry land to work on. That is to say, we have work to do here. We have to mobilize the men. There are no long lines of men at the canefields waiting for an opportunity to work. There are very different conditions to carry out the harvest in our country under socialism. Now we have to mobilize, organize things. And in spite of all this, never, never did the capitalists ever have a harvest like this one that we are accomplishing under socialism. [applause] So organized and so efficient. We now have tens of thousands of men who know how to operate the machines. Before the revolution it was very difficult to find someone who could really operate a tractor. Not just climb on one; start the ignition and let it run. Operating one of those combines is not like driving a tractor. To drive one of those combines one needs a lot of experience to repair one of those tractors, to maintain it, to fix or rebuild it, and so forth. There are tens of thousands of men in our country who have learned to operate these machines. And how they operate them and how they work: There are combine operators who have had to work 10, 12 and up to 14 hours. And extractor operators who have been working truly without limit, as only in a revolutionary year, as only in socialism, men are capable of working when they know that they have to accomplish a task and to overcome a difficulty. [applause] The slogan of production and defense is being fully accomplished. Our people are working better than ever, more firmly and determined than ever before, more conscientiously, more responsible. But our people are also preparing more than ever before for their defense. And the idea of the territorial troop militias has been spreading like wild fire throughout the country. [applause] Not only workers, men, women and youths are interested in it, but even children. There are many anecdotes about children who write, who collect a few resources and contribute them. The interest these children, the Pioneers, have shown for the territorial troop militias is incredible; so much so that they appear to have been complaining, even asking if they are going to be left out of the territorial troop militias. [applause] They are not going to be left out because they already are contributing. They are giving their political support, their material support. There are many groups of children who are collecting bottles and other items to cover the expenses of the territorial troop militias and who are participating. Of course, in our country no one is going to be left out of the struggle against any aggression, not even the elderly or the children. I think that all of us who are aware, let us say, who have the use of reason, in one way or another will participate in that struggle to defend our fatherland. [applause] We have just held our second party congress, An extraordinary congress. There is a very high opinion among all the revolutionary forces of the world, all the progressive forces, all the friendly countries, regarding the high quality of our congress. We have just concluded the sessions of the National Assembly. We are beginning a new year and we are beginning a new 5-year period. And we are getting off to a good start, to a very good start. We are beginning this period in a very revolutionary fashion. [applause] The facts are showing what our people are capable of. And what begins well must end well. I had never seen in our people such a degree of security and self-confidence, such a degree of awareness and culture; all of this in this people, which had a large number of illiterates 22 years ago, particularly among the inhabitants of this province. One could ask oneself, to what degree? Of 100 people in the mountains, how many could read or write: Maybe 10 or 5 That was the reality. Now these people have a 6th grade level education at a minimum, and are working their way up to the 9th-grade level. And we must note the value of education, the value of instruction, of culture and awareness. [applause] And this is what we are showing these days. We were saying that it was necessary for all of us to commit ourselves to redoubling our efforts, to do more, to do as much as we can, beginning with all of the cadres of the party and state and continuing through all the citizens of our country. One can do much for the people, for the fatherland, for the revolution. What can a doctor do when he sits in front of his patients? He is there working taking care of them and not just offering health and tranquillity, returning the joy of health to a countryman, a human being. He is not only carrying out a humane duty, he is helping the revolution. He is strengthening the revolution, he is defending the revolution. [applause] [One defends the revolution] not only with a rifle, or by training others. There, at that post, the nurse who takes care of a patient, the technician who is in a laboratory ready to give a quick, better answer regarding an analysis are strengthening the revolution, are strengthening it politically, be they male or female. Because the better we can accomplish our duties, the more efficient we are, then the more satisfied our people are. They do not aspire to extraordinary things that are beyond their reach. They aspire to things that can be had, to receive what they can receive. And the more satisfied they are, the more committed they will be to the revolution, their fatherland, their people, and the more willing to defend it to the last drop of their blood. [applause] We cannot stop being optimistic. The people of Manzanillo have experienced 25 years of history, which were important to our people. We recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Granma landing on the coasts of this province. [applause] And these 25 years have not passed in vain. The difficulties have not been in vain. And we have the right to feel confident, secure, optimistic and determined. We have the right to not be afraid of anyone or anything. [applause and chanting of "Fidel for sure, hit the Yankees hard!"] When we landed at La Colorada at dawn on 2 December 1956, there were 82 or us, 82. And an army of more than 60,000, including soldiers, sailors and policemen--without counting the squealers and the rest of them [laughter from the crowd] were waiting for us here. For each one of us there was 1,000 of them here, armed, one against 1,000. But we landed any way, and began our march toward the mountains. And we faced the difficulties. Later on it was worse. Because later on we were just a handful, with a few rifles. When Paul and I got together again there were seven rifles and six of us. We had an extra rifle. At that moment there was one rifle too many. And then the odds were even worse, because the same 70,000 or 80,000 soldiers, sailors, policemen, etc., were still waiting for us. And we continued our struggle. I do not want to be recounting the things that we were involved in. I only want to recall the situation in which we found ourselves, which was very difficult. The situation that we and you, the people of Manzanillo, were in, because you had placed your hope in a handful of men. And that handful of men had a very powerful enemy. Of course, if the people of Manzanillo had been armed. If the people of Manzanillo each had a rifle when we landed here, then the Batista tyranny would not have lasted any time at all. But the people of Manzanillo were unarmed. [applause] I am talking about the teachings of history. History was good; our cause was just. We had confidence in the people. We were right. We were determined to fight. Without the will to fight what would have happened? We would have withdrawn. We would have surrendered. We would have given up the struggle. But none of us even thought of that; not even once. And there are people who did not understand, who asked themselves: What are those people thinking? Who do they think they are? There are only 6 of them left 7, 10, 12. How can they fight? Against such a powerful enemy and in such difficult circumstances. The circumstances were so difficult; we did not know those mountains. We had never been in those mountains before, that group of us. Then others began to join us, some peasants, for example Comrade Guillermo and other peasant comrades who were from that region and were familiar with it. But our group did not know the area at all. And that is how this story began, this 22-year story, until now, until this new figure of 124 percent that you achieved here in Manzanillo today. [applause] From then until today when we are dedicating this hospital here. After 25 years and a few days. It must be 25 years and 38 or 39 days, more or less, since that struggle. I believe that I should mention it here: This revolution was born from almost nothing. It was born from very little. It was born facing apparently insurmountable problems, facing an apparently invincible enemy. And this has been the history, the upright history of our revolution, the history, without hesitation or surrender, of our revolution and our people. And this is the spirit of not only the people of Manzanillo, but of our entire people. [applause] Therefore, what enemy can intimidate us? [People shout: None] What threats can scare us [People shout: None] Regardless of how powerful the enemy might be. There is nothing more powerful than a just ideal. There is nothing more powerful than a people struggling for their cause, their fatherland, the land, their ideas, their concept of what they think is noble, dignified, just and morally correct. There is no force in the world superior to that. And there is no way to defeat a people like that. No way. [applause] Even if they land 10,000 tanks here. When they get here they will not have one front. They will have a front everywhere. Above, below, on their back, on the front, on the side, everywhere because [applause] [People shout: Fidel, Fidel] the entire country would be the battle front. Ten thousand tanks. So what? They are not going to scare us or preoccupy us. Besides, we could have a few bazookas to shoot at those tanks. The tanks will not be sightseeing here. No one will be quiet anywhere. They will be facing a swarm of people, an armed swarm of people, this is the correct term, who are invincible and who will not give up. Not ever. [applause] That will not happen. And the stronger we are, the less danger there is because an enemy aware of what he will have to face, will have to think twice about it, will have to think about who they will be fooling around with. So we are quiet, calm, working, preparing ourselves. We are so optimistic that we have not rested 1 minute in our work, in the cleaning, the planting, the harvesting, everything. They will not make us negligent in our activities. If they threaten us we will work harder. We will even profit from their threats. We are going to profit from threats. [applause] They have made insinuations, denunciations; they have expressed aggressive ideas. Well, we already are stronger. We have started the year stronger than we were at the end of last year. We are working harder and better. Our revolution is stronger. Because the revolution, to say it like a peasant would, is something like a stake, and the harder it is hit the further in it is driven. [applause and chanting] We are satisfied, people of Manzanillo and Granma, with this first mass event of the historic year of 1981, with this first mass event of this 5-year period, the first great popular meeting that we have been able to hold here, together with you, such firm, revolutionary and familiar comrades. We are satisfied [applause] with the presence here of all of Manzanillo, with this proof of a spirit of struggle and determination that you have given today, and with the beautiful tribute that you have given with the dedication of this hospital to Comrade Celia Sanchez. [applause] This is also a tribute to other illustrious sons of Manzanillo, doctors also, who fought alongside us in the mountains and who no longer are with us, (Pity Fajardo) and Rene (Balleros). [applause] It is also a tribute to the comrades who accompanied us on the "Granma" and died, a tribute to those who fought in the mountains and died, a tribute to all those who have fallen. Because each victory of the revolution is a worthy tribute to those who fell to make this possible. To those who fell so that our people could begin on this long, heroic and beautiful path of history to reach where we are today and what we are today. Fatherland or death, we shall win. [applause and shouts of "We shall win!"] -END-