Some 217 Cuban doctors arrived in South Africa on Monday on a mission to help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic as the country embarks on the last stages of a nationwide lockdown that started on 27 March.
According to the presidency, the doctors are experts in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health and medical equipment engineering.
Family physicians in the group are expected to guide interventions through current door-to-door testing and to assist local health workers in health promotion and disease surveillance at the community levels, the high office said.
Cuba is renowned for its excellent and strong health care system, which has seen many South African medical students flock to the island nation for training.
Over 700 young South Africans, many from previously disadvantaged communities in the country, have received their medical training in Cuba since the inception of the Nelson Mandela/Fidel Castro medical training programme in 1997.
“The deployment of Cuban doctors, engineers and technical experts in South Africa to render important services is a demonstration of the strategic partnership and solidarity between Pretoria and Havana and a good example of South–South Cooperation,” the presidency said.
The Cubans join the COVID-19 war as South Africa on Monday confirmed its coronavirus tally had risen to 4,564 cases and had claimed 87 lives.
NM/jn/APA