Written by: Maria Ines Alvarez Garay (*)
The Day of Africa is celebrated on May 25th, commemorating the creation of the Organization for African Unity in 1963 and since 2001 the African Union.
Friendship ties with Africa form an important part of our history, rooted in deep cultural roots that stemmed from the cruel slavery of more than a million human beings dragged and forcibly removed from their native Africa.
Let’s take the words of our First Vice President Salvador Valdés Mesa,
«In the midst of all the difficulties, we will not stop being in solidarity, especially with Africa.»
The work of the Cuban Medical Brigade in The Gambia is a reliable example of the bilateral collaboration between Cuba and the African countries.
We proudly highlight that in the same way that together with the brothers of that continent we take up arms to contribute to the defense of the independence and sovereignty of Africa, today we are also with them in the fight for a healthy Africa and we can proudly and fully display what we have done so far this year in the different hospitals and health centers throughout the country more than 250 000 consultations in the various medical specialties and emergency rooms, more than 7000 deliveries, more than 5000 surgeries, more than 9000 dental care and more than 8000 patients were benefited with hemodialysis services, this is our best tribute to the day of Africa.
We worthy Cubans speak with concrete facts and not with beautiful words, we are internationalists by conviction and helping other peoples of the world is our task of order, as we do today in the fight to free humanity from the Covid-19 pandemic
The members of the BMC Gambia are leaving an indelible mark in this African land that has welcomed them as their daughters and sons for their professionalism, unconditional dedication, their love without limits for the beautiful work they do to save human lives, to heal the body and the soul. Beloved Mother Africa, Cuba will always be in solidarity with your peoples, despite the blockade, despite the unjust campaigns by the Washington government to discredit our medical brigades, despite the Covid-19. Here we are and we will always be with you.
We reaffirm the will of the Cuban government and people to come true the legacy of the historical leader of the Revolution, Fidel Castro in his concept of Revolution, when he stated:
«Revolution is … fighting for our dreams of justice for Cuba and for the world, which is the basis of our patriotism, our socialism and our internationalism.»
(*) Professor and collaborator of the Cuban Medical Brigade in The Gambia
"An Island on a Continent" 