By Kemo Cham
A group of 16 medical doctors and nurses, who are part of the Cuban Medical Team in Sierra Leone, have met with President Julius Maada Bio.
The meeting which was held at State House in Freetown was meant to introduce the medics who were deployed into the country to help its respond to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The team, accompanied by the Cuban Cuban Charge’d’ affairs in Sierra Leone, were presented to the President by Minister of Health and Sanitation, Professor Alpha Tejan Wurie.
Prof. Wurie, in a statement, said the deployment of the Cuban medics was a manifestation of the cordial relationship that existed between the people and governments of the two sister countries.
He added that it was also reflective of the clear bonding and cooperation among ministries in the Sierra Leone government.
Bernardo Quintero, the Cuban Medical Brigade, thanked the president for sparing time to meet with them.
The Cuban Charge’d’ Affairs, Felix Raul Rojas Cruz, spoke on the significance of this development in relation to the historical ties between Cuba and Sierra Leone.
Ambassador Felix recalled that Cuban medical teams were deployed in Sierra Leone during the Ebola epidemic as well as during the 2017 flooding and mudslide. He said they were once again poised to contribute to the wellbeing of the people of Sierra Leone in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
President Bio thanked the Government and people of Cuba for answering to the call of his government with the deployment of its medical personnel. He said that this demonstrated their commitment in solidifying the long-standing bilateral relations between the two countries.
“The Government and the people of Sierra Leone further appreciate the Government of the Republic of Cuba’s support in the medical sector in the country, by continuously awarding scholarships, over the years, to students to train in the various medical fields. This has greatly contributed in boosting the healthcare system in the country,” Bio said.
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