Gauteng, August 3 (RHC)-- A new Cuban medical brigade has arrived in Gauteng province, capital city Pretoria, raising the number of Cuban health professionals offering their services in South Africa to over 400.

In statements to reporters, Víctor Figueroa, head of the Cuban medical mission in Gauteng, said that the main mission of the Cuban health professionals is to assist local health authorities in improving the primary health system, particularly in reducing the high maternal and infant mortality rates in the province.

Dr. Figueroa highlighted efforts by the South African government to improve citizen’s free access to universal health care services.

The province of Gauteng is the smallest of South Africa’s nine provinces. It is densely populated with some 13.2 million inhabitants, according to the 2015 South African National Census.