Another batch of Cuban Medical Team arrives

A team of about 140 Cuban Medical staff has arrived in the country to start their two-year voluntary service in the various regional and district hospitals.

Sixty more doctors including 11 professionals would join them by the end of November to assist their Ghanaian counterparts at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.

Interacting with them, Dr Kweku Afriyie, Minister of Health, said the team's arrival would bring a great relief to the health sector and commended the Cuban Government for its efforts to assist the Ghana Government to improve the country's health sector.

He said: "the team's presence will fill the vacuum created by our local doctors who deserted the country for a greener pastures."

Dr Afriyie was full of praise for the Cuban doctors for sacrificing their comfort and families for their "brothers and sisters'" health in Ghana and assured them of their local counterparts' willingness to assist them to make their stay in the country a success.

He said the ministry was taking measures to address the mass exodus of trained doctors, adding that, "while we're trying to solve that issue, I want to appeal to our young Cuban doctors to accept our scanty facilities at our hospitals and make themselves comfortable."

Ms Clara Pulido, Charge d'Affairs at the Cuban Embassy, said the doctors would continue the good work their predecessors had began to sustain the good relationship between the two countries. Dr Enrique Colas, Leader of the team, said they would work hard in their various fields to improve the health situation of the people.