South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed a team of Cuban medical experts to his country to aid in the fight against COVID-19.
The 217 experts arrived in the African country on Monday at the request of President Ramaphosa.
The presidency said the team of health professionals consists of epidemiologists, biostatisticians, public health experts, family physicians and healthcare technology engineers.
“The deployment of Cuban doctors, engineers and technical experts in all the provinces of South Africa rendering important services, is a demonstration of the strategic partnership and solidarity between South Africa and Cuba and a good example of South–South cooperation,” the presidency said in a statement.
South Africa is the continent’s worst affected country by COVID-19, having recorded 4,546 cases and 87 deaths, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a bid to stop further spread of the disease, the South African government has imposed a nationwide lockdown and also put in place many other relevant measures.
Other than South Africa, Cuba has also sent other medical teams to other countries to tackle the novel coronavirus.
“These times require cooperation and solidarity. If we act together, the propagation of the virus will be halted, in a faster and more cost-effective manner,” said the Cuban Embassy in South Africa.
Cuba & South Africa share a special bond with strong historic relations spanning decades. Over 732 South Africans, many from previously disadvantaged communities, received years of training in Cuba since the inception of the Nelson Mandela/Fidel Castro medical training programme. pic.twitter.com/tXhKsLcguy
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) April 27, 2020
