217 Cuban Medical Brigades arrive in SA

A delegation of 217 Cuban Medical Brigades arrived in South Africa on Monday morning.

This is in response to South Africa’s request to the government of Cuba to offer assistance  in the fight against the spread of the covid-19 pandemic in the country.

The group consists of experts in the field of epidemiology, biostatistics and public health, family physicians, healthcare technology and experts to provide technical assistance alongside local experts.

To date South Africa has recorded 87 covid-19 related deaths and 4546 infections.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize says Cuba is known for its disaster preparedness and its consistent deployment of medical brigades for disaster relief wherever required.

“Some of these highly skilled health professionals were in the frontline of fighting other outbreaks in the world such as Cholera in Haiti in 2010 and Ebola in West Africa in 2013,” said Mkhize.

Before departure from Cuba the medical brigade had been placed in quarantine to ensure that they minimise any form of exposure prior to coming to South Africa.

“As South Africa we have taken an additional step which is in line with our lockdown regulations. This team will be put in precautionary quarantine as they await their results. We will also use this period to fully induct them into South Africa situational analysis and the various provinces they will be deployed to,” said Mkhize.

Mkhize added that President Cyril Ramaphosa and the various ministers will formally welcome the medical brigade to South Africa and confirm their allocation to different provinces.

To date, Cuban Medical Brigades with more than 1200 health professionals are already deployed in 22 countries at their request, assisting in the fight against Covid-19.