A team of more than 200 health experts from Cuba have arrived in South Africa to help with the battle against the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Health Ministry will deploy the Cuban experts in different provinces. South Africa and Cuba have a strong bi-lateral relationship, including shared experiences in the medical field.
The medical brigade includes epidemiologists, physicians and biotechnologists. South Africa currently has 4 546 cases with 87 deaths. The aircraft carrying the expert medical team from Havana landed shortly before midnight on Sunday at the Waterkloof Air Base in Pretoria.
#COVID19 | Cuban Health Specialists arrive in South Africa to support efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. The arrival of the 217 Cuban Health Specialists follows a request made by His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa to HE President Díaz Canel Bermúdez of Cuba. #CubaInSA pic.twitter.com/BVwQyiA0C5
— Presidency | South Africa (@PresidencyZA) April 26, 2020
Cuba has consistently offered assistance to various countries fighting the COVID-19 outbreak. Thousands of local doctors have been trained through a Cuban-partnered programme.
healthcare technology engineers to assist in maintaining the inventory, deployment and repair of aged medical equipment; and experts to provide technical assistance working with local experts.#CubaInSA pic.twitter.com/ipipxYahbY
— Presidency | South Africa (@PresidencyZA) April 26, 2020
Meanwhile, SABC News Foreign Editor Sophie Mokoena says the group consists of highly skilled medical doctors.
“One thing many people always talk about is the level of medical training in Cuba particularly their primary health care. They have a huge talent but also experience and expertise, they will be able to share their experiences and they’ll be able to assist.”
“It will be a good thing for them to share information of their experience with our own medical teams here in South Africa in different parts, particularly in provinces where you have high numbers.”
The number of South African coronavirus confirmed cases in South Africa has risen to 4 564.
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