Written by Arthur Msibi
According to a statement issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in South Africa, there will be a deployment of their medical brigades in different provinces of the country in accordance with the strategic plan of the South African Department of Health. The medical team landed on Sunday just before midnight.
The 217 Cuban professionals - which include family physicians, biostatisticians, healthcare technology engineers, epidemiologists and biotechnology experts, among other specialists - landed at the Waterkloof Airforce Base at around 23:55 and were ferried by buses to the venue of their 14-day quarantine.
Minister of Health Dr. Zweli Mkhize had confirmed before the team departed from Cuba, that they had to be placed in quarantine to ensure minimal risk of exposure after their arrival.
”As South Africa, we have taken an additional step which is in line with our lockdown regulations. This team will be put in precautionary quarantine as they await their tests results.”
Mkhize also said President Cyril Ramaphosa, together with other ministers, would formally welcome the medical brigade to the country and confirm their allocation to different provinces, once their quarantine process is concluded.
The Cuban Embassy, meanwhile, expressed the importance of the two countries working together.
“These times require cooperation and solidarity. If we act together, the propagation of the pandemic Covid-19 will be halted in a faster and more effective manner. 21 Cuban medical brigades with more than 1 200 health professionals are already deployed in 21 countries, assisting in the fight against the coronavirus.”
Ekurhuleni executive mayor Mzwandile Masina had on Saturday tweeted about the brigade’s then impending arrival, expressing his excitement.
“Thank you SA Government, I can’t wait for the landing of the ‘army in white gowns’ from Cuba - to strengthen efforts of our health workers who by any stud have done so well to date in flattening the curve. I can’t hide my excitement in their imminent landing.”
By Sunday, the virus had claimed 87 people’s lives, with 4 542 confirmed positive cases and 1 473 recoveries. The number of tests that had been conducted in the country was at 168 643.
The City of Ekurhuleni had confirmed 276 cases, with the Ekurhuleni East (Kwa-Thema, Tsakane, Duduza, Brakpan, Springs, Nigel, Daveyton, Twatwa, Wattville and Alra Park) having 55 of those. The city’s epicenter, however, remains Ekurhuleni North, which is made of Tembisa, Kempton Park, Edenvale, and Bapsfontein, which had recorded the highest number of infected people at 1 111. There are also 55 unallocated cases.
Images: sabcnews.com
Σχόλια