BY Mabinty M. Kamara
The government of Sierra Leone is expecting 17 virologists (specialists in the study of viral diseases) and other medical experts from Cuba and Lebanon to join the local medical personnel combat COVID-19 in Sierra Leone.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation made the revelation in a statement on Tuesday. It quotes the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nabeela Tunis, making the announcement in a keynote address in a virtual meeting with the Sierra Leone’s Ambassadors and High Commissioners in the various missions abroad.
Minister Tunis noted that the team of experts would assist to speedily treat infected persons and at the same time train medical personnel. She added that arrangements to enhance the arrival of the team doctors have been finalized, noting that their coming was as a result of the collaborative and coordinated efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The heads of the foreign missions who participated in the virtual meeting described it as a unique opportunity, according to the media advisory, noting that this is the first time they were utilizing such a platform to engage on national and international relations.
Mrs. Tunis also used the forum to highlight some of the achievements of her ministry during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including donations in cash, IPC materials, including oxygen ventilators and other essential items.
She admonished the diplomats to adopt the culture of team work and demonstrate unreserved respect for each other in their efforts to enhance the Ministry’s foreign policy objectives.
Other relevant issues discussed during the virtual meeting included the efforts been done to finalize Sierra Leone's new Foreign Policy Guide, the enactment of Foreign Service Act through parliament, assessment and restructuring of the Sierra Leone Consular Posts in line with the development agenda of the country, among others.
Cuba is one of the few countries in the world that have been able to contain the Coronavirus disease which continues to spread across the world. This is partly due to its strong healthcare system, which is characterized by a free universal healthcare and the world’s highest ratio of doctor to population.
Sierra Leone will join a growing list of countries to have benefited from the volunteer efforts of the Cuban doctors in the global COVID-19 fight.
The Cuban government, according to a report by Aljazeera, on the 9th of June 2020 declared COVID-19 under control in the country, after it went nine straight days without recording any death of the virus.
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