Kingston, Jamaica, 11 January 2019. A score of members of the State Mission of Cuba in Jamaica (health and education collaborators, and employees of the Cuban Embassy in Kingston) donated blood this Friday in Kingston. They acted swiftly, in response to a call made by Dr. Dayton Campbell –the opposition spokesman on Health– and endorsed by Dr. Jacqueline Bisasor McKenzie –Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health– for a national blood drive to assist persons who develop complications from contracting dengue hemorrhagic fever.
"A friend in need is a friend indeed"
We are not rich people. We come from a small, poor, underdeveloped and blockaded country. For almost 60 years, successive US governments have tried unsuccessfully to make our people succumb to hunger and disease. But we have never felt alone. In the most difficult moments there were always brothers and sisters who offered us a hand. The Jamaican people were among them.
José Martí, Antonio Maceo, Fidel Castro, “Che” Guevara… and many other revolutionary leaders taught us that being in solidarity is a way to pay our own bebt with humanity. That is why Cuban people share what they have. We have no gold, money, oil; but blood. Blood is life. A blood donation can save a life. There is not a more symbolic way to demonstrate our appreciation for our sister nation of Jamaica and our commitment to its people. When we offer our blood, the phrase we have in our lips is not “you are welcome”, but “thank you”. Thank you, Jamaican people, for this opportunity to be of help.
Ricardo Calvo Águila
Political Counselor and voluntary blood donor
Embassy of Cuba in Jamaica
Mr. Ricardo Calvo and Mr. Damián Gutiérrez took part in this selfless and humane act, in representation of the Cuban Embassy:
