No One Can Erase Cuba's Loving Contribution in Bolivia and Ecuador
- Yenia Silva Correa and
Germán Veloz Placencia -
These past few days, doctors lending their
services in Bolivia and Ecuador have returned to
the homeland, leaving behind their patients,
families with few resources, but very grateful to
those who treated their ailments, living as
neighbours in their communities.
"We have lived days of deep sadness, of
harassment, of physical mistreatment," said Dr.
Nirza García Valdés, a General Surgery specialist,
who worked in the Bolivian department of Santa
Cruz, referring to the period immediately
following the coup against President Evo Morales
Ayma.
"But even in the moments of greatest danger, we
did not weaken. We stayed in our positions until
the last moment, supporting the health of the
sister Bolivian people until it was no longer
possible to continue," said García, a native of
Bayamo, in the province of Granma.
"We return victorious. We do not feel defeated.
We come with our heads held high, with our mission
accomplished, because no coup, nor any regime that
may take charge of Bolivia's fate, can erase our
impact.
"The lives saved are there, the grateful patients
are there, and the results achieved by Cuba and
its international collaboration will always be
there."
Alfredo Escobar Bernal, gastroenterologist,
thanked the Cuban government for not abandoning
brigade members to suffer the consequences of the
coup in Bolivia on their own.
When the coup was consummated, he explained, he
was in Santa Cruz and lived moments of
uncertainty, along with other colleagues, given
the tension that eventually triggered very serious
confrontations among Bolivians.
"There were situations in which we felt the
support of people who recognize the value of Cuban
collaboration, but at other times, supporters of
the coup took advantage of our presence to defame
Evo Morales and his government.
"I had no doubt that, at all times, we were
protected by our country's authorities through
diplomatic channels, and by personnel responsible
for the medical mission. They were always aware of
our safety."
As of November 18, 431 health professionals had
returned to the country from Bolivia, with the
arrival of another group expected shortly. Also
returning are members of the Cuban medical brigade
in Ecuador, where the government cancelled the
bilateral agreement in this sector.
Earlier this month, before the UN General
Assembly, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez
Parrilla clarified that our country's health
collaboration programs, which are facing attacks
by the current United States administration, are
serving "the neediest communities, based on the
solidarity and completely voluntary disposition of
hundreds of thousands of Cuban professionals;
conducted as established in cooperation agreements
signed with the governments of these countries;
and have enjoyed, for many years, the recognition
of the international community, of this
organization itself and the World Health
Organization, as an outstanding example of
South-South Cooperation."
This article was published in
Volume 49 Number 29 - November 30, 2019
Article Link:
No One Can Erase Cuba's Loving Contribution In Bolivia and Ecuador >
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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