Pretoria, August 14, 2020.- The South African Minister of Health Dr. Zwelini Mkhize, and the Cuban Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez Verson, held a virtual meeting with a representation of Cuban doctors from the Henry Reeve Brigade deployed in the provinces of Gauteng, Eastern Cape, Kwa Zulu-Natal and Western Cape.
The Minister thanked, on behalf of the South African government and people, the important contribution that Cuban professionals are making to national efforts to combat COVID-19.
The Cuban Brigade, which arrived in South Africa on April 27, is made up of 217 specialists and joined the more than 200 Cuban doctors who already worked in the vast South African geography.
The Minister recognized the selflessness and professionalism that Cuban doctors, electromedicians, biostatists, epidemiologists and other specialists are showing, working tirelessly with their South African colleagues in the Red and Quarantine Zones, hospitals and communities of the 9 provinces of the country.
He stressed that South Africa needs to learn a lot from the successful preventive approach on which Cuban medicine is based. He emphasized that the Cuban contingent of specialized doctors Hernry Reeve, has plenty of merits to receive the Noble Peace Prize, because they heal and save many lives.
He thanked the Cuban government for agreeing to send the Brigade to the country at a time when it was urgently needed, as well as the relatives of Cuban professionals for assuming the separation from their loved ones, as a contribution to the principle of solidarity that characterizes the Cuban people.
Ambassador Rodolfo Benítez, for his part, reiterated Cuba's long-standing commitment to the South African government and people, highlighting that the special relations of cooperation and brotherhood between our peoples are strengthened every day.
The Cuban diplomat took stock of the work carried out by the Henry Reeve Brigade, highlighting that in just two and a half months after starting their work, Cuban doctors have already treated about 30,000 patients and saved 166 lives.
He also highlighted the impressive results of our electromedical doctors, who have already processed more than 3,000 medical equipment, including the commissioning of highly sophisticated equipment that was out of order due to breakages or other reasons.
When intervening in the exchange, several Cuban doctors, on behalf of the members of the Henry Reeve Brigade, thanked the South African government for the great support they have been given since their arrival and the South African people for the many displays of love, affection and hospitality that they have receive. They emphasized their willingness to continue working under all circumstances and where needed for the South African brothers and sisters.
