“We asked the government of Cuba and the people of Cuba to send a multidisciplinary team of experts and health professionals. These men and women are to work alongside South African health professionals in our response to Covid-19,” Pandor said. “Cuba has once again proven the character of its nation through its act of international human solidarity.”

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor conveyed the government’s appreciation for the “solidarity and prompt response” to the request made by South Africa.

More than 200 Cuban health professionals landed in South Africa in the early hours of Monday morning, greeted by South African and Cuban politicians alike as the “army of the white gowns”. The Cuban medical team is made up of family physicians, healthcare technology engineers,        biostatisticians, epidemiologists and biotechnology experts.

(Twitter/Department of Health: Covid-19)