Henry Reeve International
Brigade on Haitian soil

Leticia Martínez Hernández
Photo: Juvenal Balán

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti.— Possibly the name of Commander in Chief Fidel Castro had never been heard with as much emotion as it was yesterday morning at the Toussaint Louverture International Airport, when 50 graduates from the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) landed on Haitian soil. They were the first group of the 200-plus doctors already in Havana who will gradually be incorporated into the Cuban brigade here.

Before leaving for Croix des Bouquets where a campaign hospital and hundreds of nurses are waiting for them, some of these young doctors spoke with Granma. Peruvian Dania Lazo was in Cuba studying the family medicine specialty when he heard Fidel’s proposal. He responded immediately and now he only knows that he has come to help; he has no idea or concern about his return date.

Argentine Emiliano Mariscal, leading this first contingent, affirmed that they had come to do what Cuba has taught them to do over the years: to provide heath care and love. "We are proud of being the ones to initiate this task. We arrived content and with a strong desire to work." Meanwhile, Honduran doctor Luther Castillo waved the flag entrusted to him in Havana and told us that five groups are ready to come, all of them with backpacks full of solidarity.

Professor Eladio Barcácel, advisor to the ELAM rector, explained that the Henry Reeve brigade of doctors from more than 20 countries, includes some who are currently completing the third year of their second specialty. And although initially they will be providing primary care, the time will come when their specialties are needed and they will do everything that has to be done.

The enthusiasm on the faces of this new Henry Reeve International Medical Brigade contingent confirms that.