More Cuban doctors arrive October 22

A Cuban Medical Team arrives in Liberia today, Wednesday, 22 October to join the fight against the deadly Ebola Virus.

(R-L) Liberian Foreign Minister, H.E. Augustine Ngafuan with Cuban Ambassador Accredited to Liberia, H.E. Jorge Fernando Lefebre Nicolas)

The 52-man medical team includes doctors and nurses. They include Epidemiologists, Intensive Care Doctors, General Practitioners, and Surgeons. Others are Pediatricians, Intensive Care Nurses, Anesthetist and Licensed Nurses.

The disclosure about the medical team’s arrival was made on Monday by the Cuban Ambassador accredited to Liberia, Jorge Fernando Lefebre Nicolas when he paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Augustine   Kpehe Ngafuan at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia.

Ambassador   Jorge Fernando Lefebre Nicolas said the coming of the Cuban Medical Experts signifies his government’s strong solidarity with Liberia and is gear towards enhancing the existing ties between both countries, while acknowledging that it is the beginning of cementing cooperation with Liberia, especially in the medical field.

The Cuban doctors are expected   to be assigned to the newly constructed Ebola Treatment Unit at the unfinished Defense Ministry facility in Congo Town. Ambassador Nicolas disclosed that discussions are ongoing with Latin American Countries to respond to the Ebola fight in West Africa.

In response, Minister Ngafuan expressed delight over the coming of the Cuban Doctors to join the fight against the deadly virus.  Ngafuan hopes the Cuban doctors will not only be here to fight Ebola but also help in strengthening the  health sector particularly in training and deployment of personnel to assist in critical areas of need.

He noted that the initiative to send the doctors is the beginning of the solidification of Liberia’s relationship with Cuba; at the same time stressing that Cuba’s diplomatic presence here could have a long-term effect on the two countries’ cooperation.

Foreign Minister Ngafuan on behalf of President Johnson-Sirleaf and the Government and People of Liberia then extended profuse thanks and best wishes to the President, Government and People of Cuba for the assistance to Liberia as the country goes through difficult health crisis.