A new Medical Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Barbados Ministry of Health and the Cuban Ministry of Healthcare on Monday, according to a diplomatic source.
The pact establishes a permanent presence of a Cuban brigade, comprising of medical specialists in various fields, such as nurses and laboratory workers, who will be stationed at healthcare facilities across Barbados.
As a result of the efforts made by the Henry Reeve International Contingent of Doctors Specialized in Situations of Disasters and Serious Epidemics in fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, Barbadian authorities expressed interest in establishing ties between industries.
In April 2020, all 136 members of the detachment were awarded with the Humanitarian Award on Heroes’ Day in 2022 for their efforts in controlling the deadly Zika virus that had spread across Barbados.
The Minister of Health and Welfare of Barbados, Janet Phillips, signed the Bilateral Cooperation Agreement with Sergio Jorge Pastrana, the Cuban Ambassador.