Vientiane, February 14, 2026. The president of the Laos-Cuba Friendship Association, Chaleun Yiapaoheu, lamented the death of Dr. Julio López, head of the first Cuban medical brigade that served in this Southeast Asian nation in 1973.
In a message of condolence addressed to the head of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Fernando González, Yiapaoheu described the Cuban doctor as a “very dear friend and comrade of our people.”
He recalled that López and the other members of the island's first medical brigade worked in Houaphan province, in the liberated territories of Laos, under very difficult conditions, despite which they successfully carried out this noble task.
“The passing of Dr. Julio López was a loss not only for his family and the people of Cuba, but also for our humble people who have never forgotten his sacrifice in our country,” stated the Vice President of the National Assembly (Parliament) of Laos.
In conveying his deepest condolences on behalf of the Executive Committee of the Laos Friendship Association, Yiapaoheu emphasized that the revolutionary doctor's cherished presence here will always be remembered with great affection.
For her part, Cuban Ambassador Enna Viant highlighted on her Facebook profile that López is a central figure in the history of cooperation between the two nations, both as head of the first medical brigade and in his capacity as Vice President of the Laos-Cuba Friendship Association.
“Julio López is deeply connected to the solidarity, friendship, and heartfelt relations between Cuba and Laos,” the diplomat emphasized, recalling that on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, the Cuban embassy published a bilingual edition of the chapter “Solidarity” from his book, “Memoirs of a Cuban Doctor.”
This distinguished Cuban specialist has the honor of having been a pioneer in cooperation, as the initiator of medical collaboration, and his work is cited as an example of the historical ties and the brotherhood in struggle that has united both peoples for more than half a century, the diplomat stressed.
In an interview with Prensa Latina 50 years after completing that internationalist mission alongside seven other members of the first medical brigade, Dr. López affirmed that during those 16 months they worked, laughed, learned, taught, and overcame all difficulties in a distant country “that I hold dear in my heart. I love Laos.”
Embassy of Cuba -PL