Cuban Medical Doctors Arrive In Liberia to Join Ebola Fight
A Fifty-two man Cuban medical team headed by Mr. Pedro Luise D. Gonzalez arrived in Liberia Wednesday ,October 22, 2014 to assist in the fight against the deadly Ebola Virus Disease that has killed thousands of Liberians including medical doctors and nurses.
The team which arrived via Cubana Flight at the Roberts International Airport comprises of three Epidemiologist, five Intensive Care Medical Doctors, twelve Family Doctors, twenty-four Registered Nurses and 5 Intensive Care Nurses.
In a brief welcoming ceremony at the Roberts International Airport, H.E. Jorge Fernando Lefebre Nicolas, Cuban Ambassador accredited to Liberianoted that the People of Cuba cannot be quiet at home while their brothers and sisters in Africa suffer from the Ebola disease.
Ambassador Nicolas emphasized that Cuba has medical expertise and medical personnel capability and willingness to come to Africa and help their African brothers and sisters .
The Cuban Ambassador further stressed that the contribution of the fifty-two man medical team to join the fight against Ebola is Cuba's way of identifying with the people of Liberia as the nation battles against the terrible Ebola diseases .
For his part, Hon. Mathew Flomo, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare asserted that with the arrival of the Cuban Medical Team in Liberia, Liberians can now say that Ebola is not only on the retreat but finally being kicked out of Liberia.
Hon. Flomo also Stated "With the construction of additional Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) and the arrival of the Cuban Medical Team, the Government of Liberia can now go into the rural parts of Liberia to make sure all sick Ebola patients are brought to the ETUs for treatment,
"The Cuban Ambassador has for a very long period been working very hard on all modalities to partner with Liberia in the health sector", Deputy Health Minister for Administration added.
Also speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Robert Lee, WHO Emergency Advisor, emphasized that the fight against the deadly Ebola disease is a global fight. disclosing that the World Health Organization (WHO) is willing to work with the Cuban Medical Team in coordinating its efforts through the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Liberia in the fight against Ebola.
Also commenting , the Chief of Protocol of the Republic of Liberia Ambassador Rufus Neufville on behalf of Liberia thanked the Medical Team and added that with the support of WHO and other international partners, Liberians can simply say that Ebola is on the retreat as government intensifies its fight against the deadly disease.
The Cuban doctors and Nurses are expected to be assigned to the newly constructed ETU at the unfinished Defense Ministry facility in Congo Town.