Medicine is Not Sold

The Special Grandparents' House

Laura, a dedicated local dentist in Havana, has transformed her home into a vital community hub—redistributing donations twice a week from the steps of her apartment or arranging deliveries for those in need. Her efforts are part of the initiative “Medicine Is Not Sold”, founded by Dr. Yashar Taheri-Keramati while he was a medical student in Havana. The project emerged from a simple idea: build a decentralized, people-powered system to share the limited medicines available. Using WhatsApp, the network grew rapidly, enabling people to post both their medical needs and surplus supplies. Today, it includes four active groups with over 1,000 members each, connecting patients and families across Havana and surrounding communities.

The center brings together essential services—free daily meals, comprehensive healthcare support, and social care—to serve some of the city’s most vulnerable seniors, many of whom survive on pensions as low as six U.S. dollars per month. A collaborative effort between the Municipal Government, the Municipal Health Directorate, and the Office of the Historian, the facility stands as a testament to what community-driven public support can achieve. Staffed by a compassionate team of 28 professionals, the center provides daytime care for up to 50 elderly residents and extends medical and social services to 6,500 inhabitants in the broader community.

Watch a short reel about the project

Take a 360 tour of the beautiful Centre in Old Havana

Respect for every living creature

In Cuba, the absence of state-run shelters means that the rescue, rehabilitation, sterilization, and rehoming of street animals is left entirely to self-funded volunteers. Many residents who migrate are unable to take their pets with them. Others are forced to abandon animals due to the high costs of veterinary care, sterilization, and food. To support these grassroots efforts, we collect and donate veterinary medicines and supplies to local organizations including Cubanos en Defensa de los Animales (CEDA), Bienestar Animal Cuba (BAC), Protección Animal S.O.S. (PASOS), Colonia Aldama, Cuban Association for the Protection of Animals and Plants (Aniplant) and four private shelters, each housing over 30 animals.

Colonia Aldama: Protected Animal Colony in Havana

It all began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when restaurants around Parque Aldama in Centro Habana shut their doors—leaving the neighborhood’s homeless cats without a reliable source of food. In response, a small group of compassionate volunteers began feeding them daily. Today, the protected colony of Colonia Aldama is home to over 120 cats and 2 dogs, supported entirely by volunteers. Injured or abandoned animals are often left at the park’s gate and hundreds of newborn kittens are also surrendered, as most Cubans cannot afford the high cost of sterilizing their pets. They partner with Aniplant and local veterinarians to offer no-cost sterilization services.

Aniplant: Compassion in Action Across Cuba

Aniplant traces its origins to the work of a visionary Cuban American woman who, at the turn of the century, stood firmly against animal cruelty and founded The Mercy Group—a society devoted to the humane treatment of animals in Cuba. Aniplant has grown into a nationwide network, with active branches in every Cuban province and its main headquarters located in Centro Habana. The organization provides low-cost—or entirely free—veterinary care, making basic services accessible to all, regardless of income. It also offers valuable internship opportunities for veterinary students, helping train the next generation of animal care professionals. One of Aniplant's key goals is creating a national culture against the abandonment of healthy or sick animals onto the streets of Cuba. With clinical consultations offered for less than 5 cents Canadian, Maritiza and her team of veterinarians are making the care of animals in Cuba within reach of all.

This dedicated group of self-funded volunteers coordinates temporary foster homes, providing animals with shelter, treatment, and care until they are ready for permanent adoption. Adoptions are facilitated through social media outreach and in-person adoption fairs, connecting rescued dogs and cats with loving homes.In addition to rescue work, the group organizes free deworming and hygiene campaigns every two weeks, with local veterinarians generously donating their time and skills. They also collaborate with nearby clinics to run free sterilization campaigns, helping to control the stray population and promote responsible pet ownership in the wider community.

Bienestar Animal Cuba (BAC): Protecting Lives, Promoting Compassion

Learn more about Colonia Aldama and efforts to launch a cat cafe with profits supporting homeless animals

Watch a short reel about the recent Aniplant visit to deliver donated veterinarian supplies