More than twenty five nurses from Cuba came to The Bahamas in the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to assist in the delivery of healthcare. A ceremony was held to recognize the contribution of these nurses as they are set to return to their home country.
Minister of Health and Wellness, the Hon. Dr. Michael Darville attended the event and delivered remarks. He told the nurses, “you came to us in the heat of the delta variant when many of our brothers and sisters lost their lives as a result of COVID. At the time when I went to Cuba we had about one hundred nurses in our health care system who was out as a result of COVID. While the developed world was recruiting our nurses left, right and center. And I reached out to our ambassador, I said, listen here ambassador, Excellency we need help in this country. Our people are sick, we’re bursting from the seams, our nursing support staff is out with COVID, can you assist? And Cuba came to our rescue. I’m grateful for that and I extend that same spirit of gratitude from our Prime Minister.”
Cuban Ambassador to The Bahamas, His Excellency Julio Cesar Gonzalez Marchante was also at the event.