Port of Spain, July 20, 2023. The Ministry of Health of Trinidad and Tobago together with collaborators of the Cuban Medical Brigade celebrated yesterday, July 19, the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the Cuban medical collaboration in the country. The activity was chaired by the Minister of Health, Terrence Deyalsingh, and the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, Tania Diego Olite.
During his speech, the Minister of Health thanked the help provided by our collaborators during these 20 years, from which they have obtained experiences applicable to the current health system in Trinidad and Tobago. The Cuban Ambassador mentioned the role played by Cuban doctors in other countries of the world and highlighted the work carried out by Cuban collaborators in Trinidad and Tobago, highlighting the supportive and courageous attitude of the "Henry Reeve" Brigade in confronting the Covid-19 pandemic. The coordinator of the Brigade, Orlando Lázaro Díaz Gómez reiterated the commitment of the Cuban collaborators to continue expanding and deepening medical cooperation in this sister country.
The framework of the celebration was propitious for the delivery by the Minister of Health of Trinidad and Tobago to the Cuban Ambassador of recognition to the Medical Brigade for these 20 years of uninterrupted work in the country.
The medical collaboration began in Trinidad and Tobago through an intergovernmental agreement between the two countries on July 20, 2003. The first group that took the lead in this solidarity initiative was made up of 30 nurses and 6 doctors who were distributed in the health systems of the different regions of the country, a practice that is maintained today.
