Cuba For West Africa
- Africa Called, Cuba Answered : CNC
campaign for Cuban medical mission in West Africa
The
Canadian Network On Cuba (CNC) is launching the Cuba For West Africa Campaign to raise
funds to assist the ongoing Cuban medical missions in the West African nations
of Guinea-Conakry, Liberia & Sierra Leone that are engaged in fighting the
Ebola epidemic. The Cuban medical mission is by far the largest sent by any
country. Standing side-by-side with the peoples of West Africa, 461 Cuban
doctors and nurses – chosen from more than 15,000 volunteers - have gone to West
Africa and joined the struggle against Ebola. Jose Luis Di Fabio, a
representative of the World Health Organization, underscored that “there
are more human resources from Cuba than from many, many NGOs put
together.”
Such is the magnitude of Cuba’s solidarity with Africa that even
the corporate media, usually unduly harsh in their views concerning Cuba, had to
give the Caribbean nation plaudits for its actions. For example, the New York
Times, recognizing at last Cuba’s virtue, has been moved to editorialize its
position that the U.S. economic embargo against the island should end and the
three Cubans still imprisoned in the U.S. as fighters against terrorism should
be freed. Also, on October 9th, the Wall Street Journal stated: “Few have heeded
the call, but one country has responded in strength: Cuba.” As Jorge Lefebre
Nicolas, Cuba’s ambassador to Liberia, declared: “We cannot see our brothers
from Africa in difficult times and remain there with our arms folded.” Havana’s
contribution is to be contrasted with that of Washington, which dispatched
thousands of soldiers, instead of more desperately needed healthcare personnel
and resources.
The Cuban doctors serving in West Africa are motivated not by
financial gain but by the profound internationalist values of solidarity
inculcated since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution. Since 1959, more than
300,000 Cuban medical workers have served in 158 countries. Currently, 50,000
Cuban doctors and nurses are serving in 66 countries across Latin America,
Africa and Asia. Indeed, before the Ebola epidemic there were more than
4,000 Cuban healthcare personnel treating people in 32 African countries. As Dr.
Jorge Perez Avila, the director of the Pedro Kouri Institute for Tropical
Medicine in Havana - where those going to fight ebola get three weeks of
intensive specialized training before going overseas - noted: "Our principle has
been to share what we have."
In 2010 Cuba rose to the immense challenge of helping the heroic
people of Haiti after the earthquake that inflicted such horrendous suffering.
In response, the CNC launched the Cuba For
Haiti Campaign as the best way by which Canadians could help Haiti. The
success of the Cuba For Haiti
Campaign demonstrates the confidence and respect that Canadians have
for the people for Cuba. The respect and confidence increase the better we know
Cuba.
In 2014, as it has always done, Cuba is taking up the cause of
humanity in Guinea-Conakry, Liberia & Sierra Leone. Africa has called and
Cuba has answered.
At the September 16, 2014 meeting of the United Nations
Security Council, Cuban representative Abelardo Moreno declared: “Humanity has a
debt to African people. We cannot let them down.”
The CNC is asking Canadians to support the invaluable work
of the Cuban medical mission by donating to the Cuba For West Africa Campaign. You can support
the Cuba For West Africa Campaign by sending a check to the Canadian Network On
Cuba. The cheques should be made out to the Canadian Network On Cuba, writing Cuba for West Africa Campaign on
your cheque’s memo line. Your donation should be mailed to: THE CNC, Attn: S.
Skup, 56 Riverwood Terrace, Bolton, ON L7E 1S
- Isaac Saney, Co-Chair & Spokesperson, Canadian
Network on Cuba, November 14, 2014 -
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