Pretoria, April 29, 2020.- In the 26th year of our democracy in South Africa, we would like to celebrate the 24 years of Health Collaboration between South Africa and Cuba, in particular the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Medical Training Programme.
This collaboration started when the two iconic leaders of both countries in the names of Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela agreed for the deployment of Cuban doctors in South Africa from the sister country, Cuba due to shortage of doctors early on in the new Post-Apartheid South Africa. After Mandela requested help, Cuba sent its best sons and daughters who were doctors to help our country in its hour of need to help with health challenges without expecting anything in return. This was in line with the Cubans solidarity stance with the poor people of the world and its Socialist political orientation and practices.
This commitment by President Fidel Castro and the People of Cuba also led to the establishment of the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Medical Program where many youth from poor families who could not get education access into South African medical universities, were sent to Cuba to be trained in different fields, majority in medicine so that we could come back and help address health challenges in our country as doctors, engineers, Athletes, Artists, etc. To date Cuba has trained and given back to our country South Africa more than 700 health professionals with an additional of more than one thousand South African students still studying in Cuba. All this happens at no extra monetary benefits for Cuba except the stipend money given to students to maintain the daily living of South African students in Cuba.
Throughout the years Cuba has done nothing but to sacrifice its limited resources to share with and for the development of South Africa without putting its interests or those of its people first.
It is therefore not coming as a surprise to us as CAASA (Cuban Alumni Association of South Africa) an organization formed by more than 700 Cuban trained graduates, that Cuba, a socialist small country, under the unjust US economic blockade, has once more risen to the occasion and opened its big heart to help our country, South Africa during this hour of need. In keeping with its stance and teachings of Fidel, that Health is a human right and not a commodity, Cuba has once again offered to our country its best daughters and sons to come help us fight the scourge of the world pandemic, COVID 19.
Our country, South Africa like many other countries in Africa, is a 3rd world country with limited resources and huge social challenges. In the context of Poverty and HIV/TB burden, we all know the catastrophe that will befall our country if we do not act fast and quick as a country to arrest the spread of COVID19 pandemic. The prolonged impacts of COVID-19 in a 3rd world country like ours are too scary to fathom if enough measures are not put in place.
Luckily for us, we have seen our capable Pres CR Ramaphosa and Min of Health Dr Mkhize had been on point with every decision thus far. The proactive measures put in place have placed our country among the top performers since the beginning of COVID PANDEMIC. Timeous Lockdown and public health measures have paid dividends for our country. As we move to Level 4,it is not time to relax, but rather time to intensify and double our fight against this invisible yet deadly pandemic Covid 19.It is in this context that once again we believe and trust in the wisdom of our leaders who have lead the nation well thus far during this crisis time. We believe and support the decision to bring in the added wisdom and experience of our colleagues from Cuba.
Cuban doctors have had the benefit of intervening in different countries to help manage pandemics of this nature, including even in their own country. Some of us while pursuing our studies in Cuba, we have had the privilege of witnessing this colleagues manage and eradicate "EL Dengue" pandemic in a very short space of time through their well oiled public health systems and philosophies. Cubans are world experts in preventative medicine. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) is a witness to that. Therefore having Cuban health professionals in our country to come and share their expertise, skills and strategies is not a move that must be opposed by all well meaning and thinking citizenry, but rather a move that must be supported and celebrated by all.
As CAASA, we therefore not only support, but call on all South Africans to support and embrace our Cuban brothers and sisters everywhere in this country where they shall be deployed by our leadership to help fight Covid-19 pandemic. We call upon every health professional to cooperate with this Cuban soldier in white coats to fight this invisible enemy for the well being of our country and stop the loss of lives
“The life of a single human being is worth a million times more than property of the richest man on earth.
Far more important than good remuneration is the pride of serving one 'neighbor" said Ernesto Che Guevara, one of the founding fathers of the Cuban Revolution.
This is what inspires and motivate the Cuban people to always offer their humble help and expertise where they are most needed despite their small country and economy.
It is with the understanding of the above philosophy and belief behind Cuban generosity that we call our sister organizations like DENOSA, SAMA and all other disgruntled members of our society to detist from political grandstanding and turning the arrival of the Cuban health professionals in our country into an opportunistic political ball. The propaganda against Cuba and its health professionals is not going to solve the health catastrophe that awaits us.
Covid-19 Pandemic is a novel crisis that requires more hands and minds on board. In order to win, we need to plan ahead. We need as much human resource and capital as we can get now. We need to plan for as many hospital beds now. As we are about to relax our lockdown levels, we need to up our preventative measures and strategies in communities, schools, work places, etc now. Anything less will render all our hard gains thus far null and void as the Covid-19 graph will straighten up like wild fire and our country could see a spike in deaths just as we are witnessing in those European Countries like France, Italy, Germany and US.
So we don't need Cuban help when things are bad. We need them now when we still have time to plan and implement those strategies beyond face mask, sanitizing and social distancing. As a country we have buried more of our people due to HIV& TB. We should not experiment with COVID-19 if we can help it. Therefore the need and presence of the Cuban health professionals in our country cannot be over emphasized.
One of the strategies and propaganda machinery being used to discredit the noble presence of Cuban doctors in our country had been in relation to monetary resources.
As CAASA, we will not enter that debate because history has proven over and over again that it is not in the nature of Cuba to sell its services to sister countries that need help. Cuba offers its help and it is the host country that determines how it would like to show its appreciation towards the good gestures of Cuba. Having said that, we would like to ask those bench critics like SAMA and their associates an ethical question: How much price can you put on a life?
Our President CR Ramaphosa in his 2020 Freedom Day speech under the theme: "Solidarity and triumph of the human spirit in challenging times” called for solidarity amongst all South Africans and the people of the world.
Cubans are here not to benefit themselves, but as an act of solidarity with South Africans. They are not here to take any one's job but to complement our initiatives in combating Covid-19 pandemic.
As CAASA, we are glad that our Min of Health, Dr Mkhize had in his latest Covid update to the country, assured the nation through the provincial Mac’s of Health that all available and qualified health professionals are being mobilized and employed to increase the workforce to fight Covid-19. This progressive move by our minister goes to show that the coming of Cuban health professionals is not a substitute to hire unemployed health professionals in our country. The Cuban Health Professionals are here for a specific mission and for a specific time.
CAASA salute and support the leadership of Dr Mkhize and his team during and beyond this Covid-19 period.
CAASA welcome and support the presence of Cuban Health Professionals in our country
CAASA support the employment and mobilization of all qualified and available Health professionals in the country
CAASA calls for the cessation of propaganda against Cuban professionals and their country by the Imperialist forces camouflaging as champions for workers.
CAASA recognizes and appreciate the noble gesture of saving lives by Cuban health professionals who continue to put their lives on the line through medical intervention and support of the most COVID-19 hard hit countries throughout the world
CAASA calls for immediate lifting of the unjust US sanctioned economic blockade against Cuba
Viva Solidarity amongst the People of the World Viva!
Viva Solidarity between South Africa and Cuba Viva!
Viva the Spirit of Nelson Mandela Viva!
Viva the spirit of Fidel Castro Viva!
Socialism or Death!
Venceremos