By: MSc. Maria Ines Alvarez Garay (*)
With much satisfaction today I tell you about the work of Dr. Liliana Rivera, a young but very talented Cuban doctor, specialist in Vascular Surgery, member of the Medical Brigade, who arrived in The Gambia full of desires to do and help this African nation, and she has done so, she has brought light, hope and life.
Within the framework of Marti’s day, she paid tribute, with a flourish, to that great man who, with his legacy, showed us the path of solidarity and imbued us with a deep love for humanity, the man is what comes first and protecting his health is our sacred duty.
We do not like to adorn words and leave a void in reality, we prefer to speak with facts, demonstrate with actions so that our truth is palpable.
Since her arrival in the Gambia, this wonderful doctor works at the Edward Francis National Teaching Hospital in Banjul, the capital city, initiating Angiology services for the first time in this West African country.
There have been many patients assisted, even the list is long, but our doctor strives every day, always in her firm commitment to restore the health of this incredible, happy and grateful population.
Recently, he assisted the patient Bintu Faje, a 35-year-old female, of Gambian nationality, who about 1 year ago was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, caused by arterial hypertension, that is why she began hemodialysis as renal replacement therapy.
The Dr. was called from the hospital emergency department, because the patient was bleeding profusely, due to the vascular access (End-Lateral Arteriovenous Fistula) which was aneurysmal.
They controlled her bleeding and prepared the patient for a second intervention, with better hemodynamics since the hemoglobin figures ranged between 3.0 g / l due to the abundant blood loss.
During the second intervention, with better general conditions, an aneurysmectomy was performed, with repair of the lateral wall of the brachial artery, with excellent results.
Dr. Liliana expressed with great satisfaction and with that noble feeling characteristic of our warriors in white coats:
«Nothing like saving a life, for the second time I am facing a vascular surgery of this magnitude, I have returned the patient to society, keeping her limb, another life saved, in the end it is the only thing that compensates for the sacrifice and the effort. for all the new experiences lived in this small country of our mother Africa. Thank you Rosa María Núñez for your assistance. «
Thanks to you Dr. And to the nurse Rosa María for your dedication, your unconditionality, your deep love for the profession that you worthily exercise, for making us proud of being Cubans.
(*) Professor and collaborator of the Cuban Medical Brigade
"An Island on a Continent" 