By Fidel Castro Oct 19, 2014 From Liberation

Source: Cuban News Agency As published by www.cuba.cu

HAVANA, Cuba

Our country did not take a single minute to give a response to the international agencies requesting its support to combat the brutal epidemic outbreak in Western Africa.

This is what our country has always done, without excluding anyone. The Cuban Government had already given the relevant instructions to urgently mobilize and reinforce the medical personnel that were offering their services in that region of the Africa continent. An equally fast response was given to the United Nations, as has always been the case in an event of a request for cooperation. Any sensible person would know that the political decisions that entail some risk for the highly qualified staff involve a high level of responsibility from those who call on them to fulfill a risky task. This is something far more difficult than sending soldiers to fight and even die for a just political cause; and they also did so because they always thought it was their duty.

The best example of solidarity that human beings can offer

The medical staff that is ready to go to any region to save lives, even at the risk of losing their own, is the best example of solidarity that human beings can offer, particularly if they are not moved by any material interest. Their closest relatives are also contributing to that mission a part of what they love and admire the most. A country seasoned by long years of struggle can fully understand what is being expressed here.

We all understand that in fulfilling this task with maximum preparation and efficiency, we would also be protecting our people and the brother peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, by avoiding the spread of the virus, since it unfortunately has entered and could further spread in the United States, a country with so many personal links and exchanges with the rest of the world. We will gladly cooperate with the US staff in this endeavor, not in the pursuit of peace between the two States which have been adversaries for so many years, but, in any case, for world peace, which is a goal that could and should be pursued.

Cuba to host meeting on Ebola on Monday October 20

On Monday, October 20, at the request of several countries of the region, a meeting will be held in Havana, which will be attended by high authorities from these countries who have expressed the need to take all relevant steps to prevent the spread of the epidemic and combat it in a fast and effective way.

We, the Latin American and Caribbean peoples, will also be sending a message of support and struggle to all other peoples in the world.

The time of duty has come.

Fidel Castro Ruz

October 17, 2014 9:23 p.m.

IMAGE: raul and brigade Raul Castro greets doctors going to Sierra Leone. Doctors had been trained for several weeks in Cuba simulating conditions in the West African countries.

For more on this story go to: http://www.liberationnews.org/fidel-the-time-of-duty-has-come/

Related stories:

Latin America countries to unite to assist African Countries with Ebola

From telesur

The Venezuelan president praised the Cuban government’s efforts to address the disease.

The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, called on all Latin American nations to unite to address the Ebola outbreak crisis in five West African countries on Sunday night.

Maduro spoke after arriving in Havana, Cuba, to attend the ALBA (the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America) emergency summit on Monday, in which leaders of several Latin American and Caribbean nations will discuss the next steps to fight the spread of the virus which has killed more than 4,000 people in just months.

The summit was called to gather public health authorities in the region “and to set out the conclusions and proposals for action protocols to the rest of Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Maduro at Havana international airport.

The president of Venezuela also called on all nations to standardize emergency protocols.

“We need to unify criteria. (The summit) is a good move. The ALBA is leading the way on an issue that is of concern and alarming the global public. We must standardize protocols,” added Maduro.

Maduro also said that during the summit he will propose to call to an emergency meeting of all the members of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC).

It is very important to listen to what experts have to say “so that our authorities and our scientist personnel and Latin America and the Caribbean tackles the spread,” said Maduro referring to the United Nations and World Health Organization officials that will attend this week’s summit.

Maduro also praised the Cuban government and its efforts to address the Ebola outbreak.

“We must recognize that the only country in our continent that has sent a delegation of 165 health professionals to Sierra Leone, is Cuba. Cuba is a leading nation in humanism, solidarity, and human support to the people of world,” said Maduro.

The president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, arrived on Sunday in Havana, Cuba. (Photo: AVN)

For more on this story go to: http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/-Latin-America-Countries-to-Unite-to-Assist-African-Countries-with-Ebola–20141020-0002.html

Castro: Cuba would cooperate with US against Ebola

By Anne Marie Garcia From Newsday

HAVANA – (AP) — Cuba stands ready to cooperate with the United States in the battle against Ebola, former leader Fidel Castro said in an article published Saturday.

Cuba is sending about 460 doctors and nurses to West Africa to help fight Ebola, an effort that was praised on Friday by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

The U.S. is sending hundreds of soldiers to set up clinics and train health care workers and it also has sent officials from the Centers for Disease Control to help in training.

“With pleasure we will cooperate with U.S. personnel in that task,” the 88-year-old ex-leader wrote in the Communist Party daily Granma. He said it would not be to seek peace between two countries long at odds, but “for the peace of the world.”

Castro did not say what form cooperation might take.

He also noted that Havana plays host on Monday to a meeting of leaders from the ALBA alliance of leftist Latin American nations that is meant to raise more support for the fight against Ebola.

He said such medical cooperation is “the greatest example of solidarity that a human being can offer.”

Jorge Perez, the head of Cuba’s top tropical medicine institute, told The Associated Press on Friday that Cuba is ready to send still more doctors if there is enough funding and infrastructure to support them.

“There are countries that have resources and can send money, but there are also those who can send human resources. It’s not just doctors. We also need nurses, technicians,” he said.

In Washington on Friday, Kerry mentioned Cuba as one of the “nations large and small stepping up in impressive ways to make a contribution on the front lines.”

Perez said that despite the United States’ chilly 55-year relationship with Cuba’s communist government, Kerry’s words were “an important gesture.”

For more on this story go to: http://www.newsday.com/news/world/castro-cuba-would-cooperate-with-us-against-ebola-1.9519240