The importance of the great discovery of Carlos J. Finlay on the yellow fever transmitting agent, causes on many occasions, unfairly, that important facts of his other contributions are unknown.

The writings on pathology and therapeutics were frequent, where he was ahead of the conceptions of the time; on filaria and cholera; but his works on subjects as diverse as physics, chess, high mathematics, chemistry and cosmology are also astonishing.

With a universal vision but not uprooted from the problems inherent to the prevailing medical-sanitary conditions in the country, in 1868 he sent a letter to La Marina newspaper where he expressed the results of the census in Havana that allowed him to establish the relationship between the cholera epidemic and the water supply, denouncing the irresponsibility of the Spanish health authorities and their inability to protect the population; its publication being vetoed even though it contained a proposal for measures to solve the disastrous effects of the cholera epidemic.

Hard work

He is also working prophylactically on a vaccination proposal against yellow fever, anticipating the disembarkation of the insurgents to protect them from that disease.

He was appointed Chief of Health in Cuba, on May 20th, 1902, and of the Municipal Health Department of Havana, at the proposal of Dr. Diego Tamayo, Interior Minister, positions he held until 1909.

During this period, he created the Cuban School of Hygienists at the beginning of the 20th century, which made it possible to organize Cuban public health until it was elevated to ministerial status in 1909, becoming the first country to do so.

It passed several decrees, laws, orders, circulars and provisions that add up to more than one hundred, carrying out energetic actions in health education that managed to reduce morbidity rates by fighting epidemics, paying special attention to the problem of childhood and to spread free preventive vaccination, demanding it from “the medical gentlemen” of the municipal health services.

He studied the problem of infantile tetanus with admirable scientific intuition, managing to reduce 56% of mortality between 1902 and 1910.

His vision beyond time

Today the world is going through a fireproof pandemic, Cuban scientists have set and achieved the goal of conquering and defeating the disease to rid humanity of this scourge. Abdala and Soberana 02 are their weapons to fulfill this purpose.

Camagüey, site of the pediatric clinical trial with Soberana 02, is inspired for its successful result by the figure of Carlos J. Finlay, a man of mettle, of faith in science, with deep-rooted convictions. Of virtue and wisdom, perseverance and tenacity.

With a firm heart, he never gave up before combat to answer the truth forcefully, patiently and persuasively.

The same will respond “El Camagüey”, welcome Abdala and Soberana! we are undoubtedly prepared.

Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García