The Cuban Ministry of Public Health called for a massive tweet today to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Henry Reeve internationalist contingent, created by the historic leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro.
With the use of the hashtags #BrigadasHenryReeve and #CubaPorLaVida, cybernauts will be able to accompany the Cuban health sector from 10:00 (local time), in the midst of the discrediting campaign promoted by the US government against the island’s brigades.
This contingent of doctors specialized in disaster situations and serious epidemics was created on September 19, 2005 in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans, United States.
At that time, more than 12,000 Cuban doctors were willing to support the recovery. However, the US government refused to receive help.
Regarding the anniversary, members of these brigades recognized the humanistic work of this Cuban initiative.
Dr. Marcy Calderón recalled the support of the brigade sent to Nepal after the two earthquakes that struck that country in 2015 to work in field conditions, of which she was a member.
She also highlighted the participation of the Contingent in difficult circumstances such as the confrontation with Ebola in Africa, in response to a request from the World Health Organization, and currently, the support to 39 countries to stop the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
‘Covid-19 has been a major challenge both inside and outside of Cuba for the members of the contingent,’ added the head of the Department of Control of Non-transmissible Diseases of the Minsap.
According to figures of the Ministry, a total of 3,875 collaborators in 52 brigades joined the efforts against the pandemic and 43 teams are currently active in 33 countries.
As a result of their work, more than 12,400 lives were saved and 550,900 patients were treated.