By Alejandra Garcia on December 5, 2021 from Havana
photo: Bill Hackwell
Every December 3, in Cuba and every country in the region we celebrate Latin American Medicine Day, a tribute that has had a special connotation this year. In December, the world is marking the second anniversary of the COVID-19 outbreak and its spread around the world, a reality that shook our societies, forcing us to take the most extreme health measures for months
This celebration dates back to 1981, when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized Cuban doctor Carlos Juan Finlay as the discoverer of the yellow fever transmitting agent. The date was chosen in honor of the birth of the scientist, who conducted the most intense research of this disease.
Since the date was designated, the region had not experienced a crisis similar to the one caused by SARS-CoV-2. For months, entire cities have been confined, night curfews imposed, cultural centers and restaurants were closed. Life was paralyzed by the threat of a silent and deadly virus.
Today, two years after the first cases were detected in Wuhan, China, the world is slowly overcoming the ravages of the virus, thanks especially to health workers and the scientific community.
Although the experience has been different in each country of Latin America -the hardest hit by the pandemic worldwide- in Cuba, there is already a more encouraging reality in the air.
More than 70 percent of Cubans are already fully immunized against the disease, and almost 90 percent of the people have received at least one dose, borders have opened for all world travelers; the economy is slowly being reborn, and every city in the country is regaining its frenzy, while maintaining its vigilance to emerging strains of the virus.
“We owe this to the heroes in white coats, those who were on the front line of the fight against the disease, who exposed themselves to contagions like no one else, left their families at home to go and save the lives of other Cubans and people from other latitudes,” Cuban Health Minister Jose Angel Portal Miranda as he acknowledged the occasion of the date.
“Many congratulations to our doctors, who together with the scientists have saved our country,” added the president of the Caribbean island, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermudez.
It has been two years of constant struggle, of many sacrifices, of establishing priorities. The hospitals have had no rest, nor have doctors, medical students, nurses, technicians, and cleaning staff. Despite the severe economic crisis, no patient was left behind.
“Our professionals knew how to rise to the challenges. Behind each of you are priceless sacrifices. Many personal stories may never be made public, but you are all heroes,” Portal Miranda added.
I could not pass up this day of tribute by saying that no thanks is enough to compensate for all the dedication of these thousands of men and women in the fight against COVID-19, a sudden, constantly mutating disease that has killed more than 46 million people in Latin America to date.
“We will continue to count on our doctors for the great challenges ahead of us in defense of life. Thank you. Cuba knows it is safe in your hands,” the minister concluded.
Source: Resumen Latinoamericano – English