A first group of Cuban health professionals returned to their homeland after the Jamaican government, under intense pressure from the Trump Administration, decided to end the medical cooperation agreement that had linked the two nations for decades. Upon arrival, the healthcare workers were received by health and government officials at the airport terminal.
Cuban collaboration in Jamaica lasted for more than 30 years and yielded significant results for the Caribbean island’s healthcare system. According to official data, more than 4,700 Cuban specialists provided services in Jamaica, where they treated over eight million patients, performed some 74,000 surgeries, and assisted in thousands of births. They also helped save tens of thousands of lives and restore sight to more than 25,000 people through the Operation Miracle ophthalmological program.
The Deputy Minister of Public Health, Tania Cruz, welcomed the members of the brigade and emphasized that they were returning with their mission accomplished, highlighting their work as an example of solidarity and human commitment.
Also present at the welcoming ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister Eduardo Martínez Díaz, Minister of Health José Ángel Portal Miranda, and other representatives of the Cuban State and the Communist Party.
During the event, a video was shown reviewing the work carried out by the Cuban professionals in Jamaica, as well as the recognition of the local population for their performance.
Health authorities emphasized that the doctors worked in hard-to-reach areas and vulnerable communities, providing care under complex conditions and across various specialties, including neurology, gynecology, surgery, oncology, and intensive care.
On behalf of the brigade, the mission leader, Enrique Martínez González, expressed satisfaction with the work done and affirmed that the presence of the Cuban professionals left a lasting mark on the Jamaican healthcare system, especially in areas with a shortage of specialists.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously reported that Jamaica’s unilateral decision to cancel the agreement was communicated on March 4. With this decision, the Jamaican government is responding to external pressure and directly affecting the population of the Caribbean nation.
Cuban authorities reiterated their willingness to cooperate in health matters with other nations, without conditions, in line with their policy of international solidarity.
IMAGE CREDIT: Cuban authorities reiterated their willingness to cooperate in health matters with other nations. Photo: @MINSAPCuba
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
