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Heroes dressed in white
Leticia Martínez Hernández
That
evening, two people were celebrating their
birthdays. I don’t know how old they were, and right
then it didn’t seem to matter, given that in a few
moments they would be setting off to perhaps the
last place anyone would want to go. On the tarmac of
José Martí International Airport they boarded the
IL-96 plane which would take them directly to Sierra
Leone.
Those two people were Dr. Eldys Rodríguez and Dr.
Roberto Ponce, who just before making their way to
the plane received “happy birthday” greetings from
hundreds of Cuban healthcare professionals. These
same professionals had immediately said yes when
they were asked if they would travel to Africa. How
could they have refused, given that since the first
time they had sat down for a class at the faculty of
medicine, they were taught to cherish the gift of
saving lives.
Dr.
Rodríguez had just hugged his family. He had
reassured them. “They know I have to go. This is a
historic moment which I have to live. Right now,
with the plane ready to leave, I am full of
happiness, nostalgia, sentiment for my Revolution,
determination to push forwards, to prevent this
illness from spreading, to prevent it from reaching
my country. This is another of life’s tests, on the
day of my birthday; it must be a good sign.”
I
hope you don’t mind me asking but, are you scared?
“No,
only cautious”, he responded, smiling.
Standing next to him is Dr. Roberto Ponce, a tall
and confident man, who has also dedicated his life
to medicine. He specializes in Comprehensive Family
Medicine, and is an intensive care nurse, with a
diploma in Intensive Care, and a masters in Medical
Sciences. Sierra Leone will certainly boast the best
specialists to help fight Ebola.
I
suspected that Ponce had been part of more than one
heroic endeavor. And I was right. “I was in Sri
Lanka, when the tsunami hit in 2004; and from 2005
to 2007 I worked in Lesoto in southern Africa. So
this is my third mission.” Now about to return to
the continent of Africa, he acknowledges that “this
mission will be difficult.” But he looks calm. The
preparation he has received in the previous weeks
has equipped him with all the necessary
precautionary tools. Surprisingly he has another
confession:
“Illnesses don’t scare me, I am more afraid of that
plane over there.” I try to weigh up these men,
heroes in the flesh, with glorious accomplishments,
and others still to be realized, with memories, joys
and fears; men who have decided, despite the risks,
to dedicate their lives to others.
Cuban President Raúl Castro Ruz shook hands with
each of them before they boarded the plane; wishing
them a safe journey and swift return; telling them
to take care of themselves and offering words of
encouragement. In response they asked him to trust
in the Brigade; and give the Comandante en Jefe an
embrace on their part; some stood firm before the
Army General; others with their hands on their
hearts…
That
was how Cuba bid farewell to the team of 165
internationalist collaborators, consisting of 63
doctors and 102 nurses from across the country, with
more than 15 years practical experience and of which
81 % had served on previous international missions.
They
said goodbye to the homeland for a while,
reaffirming the unquestionable fact that Cuba
doesn’t give what it has left over, but the best of
what it has, its most precious commodity: its sons,
its heroes in white coats.
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