Earthquake in Haiti: Cuban doctors as reinforcements in a situation of extreme emergency

Patients outside a hospital damaged by the earthquake in Les Cayes, August 14, 2021. REUTERS - STRINGER

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3 min

At least 724 dead, more than 2,800 injured and many missing.

This is the still provisional assessment this Sunday, August 15 of the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck the great south of Haiti on Saturday morning.

There are already Cuban medical brigades there, a much needed reinforcement in the face of the scale of the disaster.

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With our correspondent in Havana

, 

Domitille Piron

A state of emergency has been declared

for one month in Haiti.

The United States has offered assistance, President Biden has promised an immediate American response through the United States International Aid Agency (USAID).

Already on site in the Great South for several years, some sixty Cuban health professionals have been working since Saturday morning in the emergency and the greatest precariousness, in the cities of Asylum, Jérémie, Corail and Aquin, where the wounded are flocking. by the hundreds in rapidly overwhelmed hospitals and field hospitals.

► To read also: A magnitude 7.2 earthquake shakes Haiti

" 

We heal wounds, stitches, plasters, we stabilize patients quickly so that they can be transferred elsewhere. We also had to do amputations when there was no alternative, we do everything possible with the means we have,

describes the head of the Cuban brigade in Haiti, Dr. Luis Oliveiro.

Some hospitals have collapsed, at Asile dans les Nippes the entire structure of the hospital is lost. Elsewhere, there is serious damage to health centers, so for the moment all our work is done outside.

 "

Cuban doctors and nurses are still needed in Haiti as well.

This event also sadly refers to the 2010 earthquake and Hurricane Matthew, where they were also present.

“ 

Fortunately we are prepared, unfortunately we would like never to have to work in these circumstances.

It's unfortunate, but it's not the first time we've done it here! 

», Notes Dr. Luis Oliveiro. 

The important thing for Dr. Oliveiro will also be after and the management of post-traumatic stress that the Cuban brigade will also be able to respond to.

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• Haiti

• Cuba

• Natural disasters