A contingent of medical personnel is en route to South Africa from Cuba, the Cuban Embassy has announced.
In a statement, the embassy said the specialised medical team would arrive at OR Tambo International Airport just before midnight on Monday, 27 April.
The doctors will be deployed throughout the country in line with the plans and strategies developed by the Department of Health. The contingent of almost 220 Cuban health professionals includes family physicians, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, healthcare technology engineers, and biotechnology experts, amongst others. The team will complement the experience, knowledge and skills of the South African medical fraternity in order to manage the Covid-19 crisis as effectively as possible.
South Africa won’t be the first country to receive help from Cuba – more than 1200 Cuban healthcare professionals have already been deployed to 22 different countries. “These times require cooperation and solidarity. If we act together, the propagation of the virus will be halted in a faster and more cost-effective manner,” read the statement.
“We value and care for the relationship we have with South Africa and pledge our solidarity and support during such times.”
Minister of Health, Zwelini Mkhize said “We express our sincere appreciation to the ambassador of Cuba, and his team in South Africa that have greatly assisted in the coordination of this mission. We have no doubt our public health facilities will benefit from this generous and selfless gesture by our Cuban brethren.”
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