Twenty Cuban doctors and nurses arrive in TCI

BY OLIVIA ROSE

A MEDICAL brigade from the Cuban Henry Reeve contingent arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Monday (June 15) to aid in the territory’s Covid-19 fight.

The team’s arrival comes on the heels of in-country testing for Coronavirus which began recently.

Although the territory was not severely affected in terms of a high number of hospital cases, the Government asked for external help when widespread community testing is conducted.

Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams and Minister of Health Hon. Edwin Astwood welcomed the 20-member team at Providenciales International Airport.

The group, which specialises in disaster situations and serious epidemics, includes eight medical specialists, a chief of brigade, 10 registered nurses and an administrative assistant.

In keeping with health protocols, the team will undergo 14 days of quarantine.

During that period, they will conduct virtual training with the TCI Hospital on their systems to ready themselves for full deployment on Monday, June 29.

In a statement on Monday, Deputy Governor Anya Williams said the Government signed a three-month agreement with Cuba for the provision of additional medical support to the TCI.

An option to extend for a further term is available if the need arises.

She said: “Following several weeks of successful negotiations with the Cuban government, we are pleased to welcome the medical brigade to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“We extend our sincere thanks to the vice-minister in charge of international cooperation affairs in the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, Dr Marcia Cobas for her kind consideration as well the delegation at the Cuban Embassy in Jamaica, in particular the head of mission ambassador Inez Flores Fernandez and her assistant Yasnay Perez as well as our colleagues at the British Embassy in Cuba for their direct assistance in progressing this initiative.”

The deputy governor’s sentiments were echoed by Minister of Health Edwin Astwood who said his ministry is excited to embark on the new joint venture with Cuba.

“My ministry warmly welcomes the arrival of the Cuban medical brigade which will provide much needed additional support in response to the threat of the coronavirus in the TCI.

“The arrival of the team coincides with the additional work that is being carried out at the TCI Hospital to retrofit a new high dependency wing.

“Cuba is renowned for its esteemed medical professionals and we are pleased to have these persons join our team.”

Astwood stressed that his ministry is working assiduously to improve the territory’s medical proficiency through the recruitment of additional staff.

“My ministry continues to work to build and to strengthen capacity in these Islands and we welcome and fully support this initiative which is being fnded through our coronavirus budget.”

The medical team hails from the Henry Reeve Emergency Medical Contingent, named after a US-born general who fought in the First Cuban War of Independence in the 19th century.

It was created in 2005 by the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro and specialises in response to natural disasters and outbreaks.

Director general for Latin America and the Caribbean at Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, Eugenio Martinez, in a Twitter post shortly after the team was deployed to the TCI, said the Covid-19 pandemic is being addressed with solidarity, not selfishness.

He said: “International cooperation does not stop. This is the 35th brigade of the Henry Reeve which is already working in 28 countries.

“The disposition is to continue offering solidarity amidst this international emergency.”

Martinez underscored that Cuba’s willingness to continue providing solidarity in the face of an international crisis is what defines the country.

Last week Cuba’s public health minister Jose Angel Portal told the World Health Organisation of his country’s willingness to continue contributing health professionals to the fight against the coronavirus.

More than 3,300 collaborators have joined the more than 28,000 who were working in 59 countries before the international health emergency. During the Covid-19 pandemic, similar medical teams were deployed to Italy, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Surinam, Jamaica, Haiti, Belize, Dominica, and the island nations of Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, St Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda.