Cuba: Thirty-seven doctors and nurses from the Henry Reeve brigade left this Wednesday from the province of Matanzas to Las Tunas and Artemisa, the official website of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP) of Cuba publishes.
Holguin nurses left their province last month to help in Matanzas, and a week ago they returned to serve their own.
Just two examples among hundreds of gestures and daily feats of a sector, which has to correct imperfections, but also recognize those who, after completing their mission of support in the confrontation with COVID-19 in a territory, do not make use of the deserved rest and they decide to join their companions in other provinces and localities.
A Cuban doctor does not rest while the health of his people is at risk. This is how we were formed, this is how we act out of conviction, out of love for a profession that gratifies us, because even though these are very hard moments, very hard for the Cuban family, we still see more being born than dying, and life has to be protected, fought every second.
For 17 months, solidarity and empathy have been central in the fight against this devastating virus. Thousands of our professionals, in 57 brigades, have helped 40 nations to provide a dignified health service to their citizens in the midst of the pandemic. So far this year, 1,797 of them have returned from countries such as Venezuela, Mexico, Panama, Azerbaijan and have joined the battle against COVID-19 in provinces such as Matanzas, Ciego de Ávila, Guantánamo, Mayabeque, Cienfuegos, territories severely affected by SARS-CoV-2.
Hundreds of professionals have also left their homes, from their consultations, to go to other provinces to render their services with the determination to be there as long as they are needed.
Other tens of thousands have spent months and months in our health centers, without giving up, without being able to hug their children or mothers for fear of infecting them.
The ?Henry Reeve? doctors are doctors of the world, but they are, above all, doctors from Cuba. Women and men who are distinguished by their solidarity and love for humanity.
Once you belong to the ?Henry Reeve? you belong to it forever, because the doctors of this battalion are always ready and willing to go to a call for help, wherever it is necessary.
The doctors who work in our health system, from primary care in the communities to institutes, are professionals who honor every day the precept of ?not belonging?, because they owe themselves to the other.
To all, wherever they are, our admiration and respect; we continue to trust you.
(Taken from the Facebook profile of the Minister of Public Health, Dr. José Angel Portal Miranda).