This month, Cuba’s international medical cooperation celebrates 60 years of existence in 165 nations. In those six decades, 605,000 Cuban health professionals and technicians have saved lives and eradicated diseases around the globe.
Shortly after the Cuban Revolution of 1959, Cuba began working on a project still in existence today. Known as the Henry Reeve Brigade, it comprises 22,632 health and technical professionals working in 57 countries.
From the start, the medical brigades have helped with health emergencies, disasters, and the consequences of war. Over eight million lives have been saved and almost 16,000 surgical operations were performed.
The Henry Reeve Brigade’s first mission occurred in 1960 when a small team of doctors went to Chile after the earthquake. From 1961 to 1963, another team of doctors went to Algeria, transferring war-injured soldiers and children to Cuba for treatment.
Another major achievement of the Brigade was the Cuban response to a deadly outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. Cuba was the first country to offer help after the United Nations’ urgent call for help.
Since 1998, Cuba has provided medical aid to Haiti during disasters, pandemics, and political upheaval.
Another of Cuba’s most outstanding achievements is “Operación Milagro” (Operation Miracle). Three million patients in developing countries have received treatments to save and restore eyesight. The program also provided help with infrastructure and delivered new medical equipment.
Dr. John Kirk, in his book, “Healthcare Without Borders,” reported that over 20 countries have benefited from Operación Milagro. Patients received free eye surgery or ophthalmology program services from the Cuban doctors:
Operación Milagro: Total Patients Per Country:
- Uruguay, 45,000
- Jamaica: 68,000
- Africa: 32,000
- Venezuela: 1,000,000
- Argentina: 37,000
- Paraguay: 15,000
- Ecuador: 93,000
- Bolivia: 650,000
- Nicaragua: 61,000
- Suriname: 26,000
- El Salvador: 10,000
- Mexico: 4,800
During the early days of the pandemic, Cuba’s medical brigades assisted in Italy. Since the first outbreaks, 58 medical brigades helped combat Covid-19 in 42 nations, among them, China, Grenada, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Suriname, and Venezuela. Cuba’s pandemic assistance occurred whilst the Trump regime increased sanctions against the Island and blocked desperately needed medical supplies and ventilators.
In 2020, the Cuban Medical Brigade served in the Italian cities of Crema and Turin. Cuba’s doctors first arrived in Italy in March. They worked at the newly constructed field hospital (OGR) in Crema. A second medical brigade joined the doctors in Italy in April. Italian photographer Fabrizio Sansoni, whose photographic work (Eroi del Silencio) documented the Cuban doctors in Turin, commented:
“Too little has been said about the help of Cuban doctors in Italy and in the rest of the world, or not enough has been done. These ‘silent heroes’ of the Henry Reeve Brigade, since mid-April, have been doing a great and stoic job together with the Italian doctors in the battle against COVID-19 in the suffering cities of Crema and Turin.”
On July 2, 2020, Italy honored the Cuban doctors for their work. The lights of the Mole Antonelliana building, the symbol of Turin, lit up the night skies in thanks to Cuba for the work of the Henry Reeve Medical Brigade. They were thanked for their professional preparation, dedication, and courage. The medical brigade, represented by Dr. Guerra, received the Honorary Citizenship of Turin.
Cuban doctors also supplement national healthcare programs in developed nations experiencing staff shortages. They work in Brazil, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and others. They usually work in underserved areas of these countries.
Cuba’s international medical cooperation is remarkable and worth celebrating.
T.K. Hernández is co-founder and editor at Cuba Business Report. Her work has been published in various online news media publications. She has supported fundraising for Cuba’s last two hurricane disaster relief campaigns and is a member of the Cuban Friendship Association. She is also a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, and ACES International alliance of editors. Ms. Hernández is the author of three books, most recently, “The Cuba Interviews: Conversations on Foreign Investment and Economic Development,” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2023).
