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An embrace from Cuba
Leticia Martínez
Hernández
The runway of José Martí International airport was
one again witness to the most touching scenes as
Cuba’s President bid farewell to our heroes, who
will be arriving in West Africa tomorrow to
participate in the global fight against Ebola.
On this occasion 83 collaborators departed for
affected countries, 49 to Liberia and 34 to Guinea
Conakry. Raúl embraced each member of the brigade as
they boarded the plane - an embrace from 11 million
Cubans, a whole island.
With their flags in hand, they promised to give
everything, tirelessly heal and continuously treat,
and return to the homeland safe and healthy. They
also sent greetings to Fidel; asked Raúl to trust
them and not to worry, that they are prepared for
what lies ahead.
Thus, the IL-96 aircraft departed with a first class
troop: 35 doctors and 48 nurses, all with more than
15 years professional experience and who have
completed previous international missions, 42 % on
more than two occasions.
In attendance at the moving farewell were José Ramón
Machado Ventura, Second Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and a vice
president of the Councils of State and Ministers;
Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, first vice president
of the Councils of State and Ministers; Minister
Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; and Roberto Morales Ojeda,
minister of Public Health.
These two brigades take the total of Cuban health
professionals who have joined the fight against
Ebola to 256. With each one travels the message of a
nation immensely proud to have sons such as them,
who last night bid farewell to their families,
friends, and country, to stop the frightening
epidemic which is threatening the world. To all our
heroes, best wishes from this beloved island.
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