Article by the Ambassador of Cuba to South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini, Rodolfo Benítez Verson
A few days ago, on September 22, 25 years of fruitful diplomatic relations between the Republic of Cuba and the Kingdom of Eswatini were commemorated.
Since formal ties were established in 1995, both States have worked together in the interest of diversifying and expanding relations of friendship, cooperation and solidarity. Cooperation in the field of health is undoubtedly the most active component in our bilateral cooperation.
After the signing of the first Health Cooperation Agreement between the two countries in 2005, on October 6 of that same year, the first Cuban doctors and paramedics arrived in the Kingdom of Eswatini. Today we celebrate the first 15 years of uninterrupted Cuban medical presence in this sister African country.
To date, the Brigade has carried out more than 50,000 consultations, and saved more than 2,500 lives. Thanks to Cuban doctors, that country has for the first time specialists in areas such as neonatology and oncology, in which national specialists have not yet been trained.
An additional group of 19 Cuban health professionals arrived in Eswatini last August, in response to the country's government's request to assist in the national efforts against the COVID19 pandemic, the greatest health hazard that the Cuban government has faced. world in the 21st century.
More than 3,700 Cuban specialists from the “Henry Reeve” Contingent of Specialized Doctors have been deployed to 35 countries, including the Kingdom of Eswatini, to help face the Coronavirus.
It could not be otherwise. Not once in its revolutionary history has our people stopped offering its solidarity medical aid to other peoples that require it. We are motivated by the solidarity and internationalist values that characterize the Cuban Revolution, including the premise of sharing with others what we have and not what is left over.
On the occasion of the visit made to Cuba by His Majesty King Mswati III last year, at the invitation of Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel Bermúdez, it was agreed to continue strengthening the relations of friendship and bilateral collaboration for the benefit of our peoples.
Our President conveyed to the King the eternal gratitude of the Cuban people for the firm position of solidarity that the Kingdom of Eswatini has maintained, together with all the other countries of the African continent, in support of the resolutions adopted annually by the United Nations and the Union Africana against the illegal and criminal economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States Government against Cuba.
Within the framework of that visit, a new and important Cooperation Agreement on Health was signed, to which we are committed to implementing it, and other potential areas were identified by both Heads of State to expand cooperation in areas such as medical services; medicines; biotechnological products; primary health care with a community and preventive focus; advice for the development of research centers; as well as training and professional training, among others.
In terms of human resource development, we can show important concrete results. Already 25 young people from Eswatini have graduated from Cuban universities, benefiting from annual scholarships granted by the Cuban government, including in Medicine, Sports and Physical Culture careers, Bachelor of Primary Education, and Higher Education careers.
There are currently 18 other Eswatini students in different specialties pursuing university studies in our country. Cuba will continue to contribute in solidarity to the training of the Kingdom's human resources.
Likewise, both parties have initiated practical steps to materialize the prompt introduction in Eswatini of Heberprot-P, an exceptional drug produced by Cuban biotechnology for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, which will drastically reduce the high number of amputations that take place. in the Kingdom for that cause.
In our work visits to different regions of the country, we have verified with healthy pride the great affection and respect that the people of Eswatini show our doctors there, which they have earned with their daily work and professionalism. They are worthy representatives of our people, who admire and appreciate them so much.
They fulfill their mission with altruism and modesty, assuming without hesitation the hard sacrifice of being separated by hundreds of thousands of kilometers from their families, loved ones and friends, who await them on our beautiful Caribbean Island.
Our combatants in Eswatini of the great Cuban Army in White Coats, demonstrate with their daily example that for our health professionals there will never be language barriers, obstacles or dangers that stop their work.
Healing and saving lives, at the cost of any sacrifice, is what we bring to the world. What we offer are “doctors and not bombs”, as our eternal Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz affirmed.
Congratulations to the Cuban Medical Brigade in Eswatini in its first 15 years!