Published on 10 October by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
Cuba was represented ant the “Defeating Ebola in Sierra Leone” held at Lancaster House in London and co-chaired by British Minister of Foreign Affairs Philip Hammond and International Development, Justine Greening.
The Foreign Secretary highlighted that the conference was summoned to urge the international community to take immediate action in facing the disease in Sierra Leone.
Cuba, in response to an invitation by the British government was represented by Cuban Health Vice-minister Marcia Cobas Ruiz.
The conference was attended by delegates from over twenty countries and international organizations including the United Nations, WHO as well as NGOs and private companies.
Cuba participated in the conference after responding to a call by the UN and WHO by sending 165 health care professionals which joined another 23 already in Sierra Leona, totalling 188 Cuban medical and nursing staff part of a Brigade of the International Contingent Henry Reeve of Doctors Specialized Tackling Disasters and Epidemics.
In her remarks vice-minister Cobas Ruiz said: “For 55 years, the Cuban Revolution has contributed with its solidarity assistance in more than 158 countries by sending 325 710 health care workers. In the specific case of Africa 76 000 such professionals have served in 39 countries. Now Cuban medical cooperation is present with 50 731 health care workers, in 66 countries; 4 048 of which are currently deployed in 32 African nations”.
The vice-minister added that an avant-garde of Cuban experts will travel to Liberia and Guinea Conakry to arrange logistic details before the deployment of two brigades in these countries with which Cuba will be “contributing 300 professionals in the three hardest hit countries by the epidemic”.
Prior to the conference vice-minister Cobas held a meeting Under State Secretary in charge of Public Health at the British Health Ministry, conservative MP Jane Ellison, to whom she conveyed Cuba´s willingness to work in the facilities currently built by the UK in Sierra Leone as well as with its professionals.