Lancet Americas Commission Launches Report on Primary Health Care Resilience in Latin America, Caribbean

Hurricane Katrina exposed severe systemic failures in the U.S. response to disaster, especially highlighting the neglect and suffering of Black communities in New Orleans. Despite Cuba's rapid offer to send over 1,500 medical professionals and 86 tons of supplies, the U.S. government, under President Bush, blocked the Cuban medical mission, citing sufficient FEMA response, while hundreds died due to delayed aid and inadequate emergency action. The catastrophe revealed deep-rooted racial and political issues, including police violence and abandonment of vulnerable populations, as well as a broader failure of governance and prioritization of political image over human lives. This tragedy also reflected historical and cultural resilience, with communities drawing on enduring values such as those embodied in the Nguzo Saba principles to act as their own first responders and sustain community solidarity. The lessons from Katrina remain relevant today as health systems and governance structures continue to face crises, emphasizing the need for equitable, resilient, and community-centered responses. Additionally, the broader context of crisis management failures in the U.S., such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores ongoing systemic issues like corruption, politicization, and social division that exacerbate humanitarian disasters.