More than 200 Cuban healthcare workers arrived in South Africa to assist with the fight against Covid-19 in the early hours of Monday. The Cuban medical brigade was sent to SA after discussions between President Cyril Ramaphosa and President Díaz Canel Bermúdez of Cuba.
The group consists of experts in the fields of epidemiology, biostatistics, and public health, family physicians. Cuba has also sent more than 20 medical brigades worldwide to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Cuban outreach in SA aimed to guide interventions through door-to-door testing and to assist local health workers in health promotion.
Their surveillance at the community level healthcare technology engineers to assist in maintaining the inventory, deployment and repair of aged medical equipment. Some experts will provide technical assistance working with local experts.
Minister of Defence Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was part of the ministerial committee who welcomed the team on their arrival at the Waterkloof air base. She told the group on their arrival on the day South Africa was celebrating Freedom Day was of special significance.
“If I had my way, I would be leading you in a song, a popular South African song which says … How shall we thank you Cubans,” said Mapisa-Nqakula told the group.
They will be deployed to different provinces of the country in accordance with the strategic plans elaborated by the department of health.
