The commitment of Latin American and Caribbean countries to join forces in an effort to prevent the spreading of Ebola to the region was reflected in broad participation of authorities and specialists at the first Ebola Technical Meeting , called by the Bolivarian Alliance for the People’s of Our America (ALBA), held October 29-30 in Havana. Some 278 experts from 34 countries attended the gathering to exchange experiences, strengthen and design action plans to confront the global threat posed by the epidemic. One of the most important outcomes was the scheduling of an intensive course for medical professionals on prevention and treatment of Ebola, November 10-15 at Cuba’s Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine. Issues addressed included early diagnosis; clinical treatment; reinforcement of basic preventative health measures including those taken at international borders and points of entry; training and protection of healthcare workers; as well as public information campaigns about the virus. Dr. José Angel Portal Miranda, Cuban deputy minister of Public Health, commented, “Today we are more united and better prepared as a group.” Bolivia’s Minister of Public Health Dr. Juan Carlos Cavilmontes thank Cuba for hosting the event, adding, “We leave with the serenity of being able to tell our people that the Americas are making an effort to ensure that this epidemic does not spread beyond Africa and around the world, and that we have the ability to confront the virus. We will give our all to defend life and humanity.” Also in attendance were Cuba’s Minister of Public Dr. Roberto Morales Ojeda; Elba Rosa Pérez Montoya, head of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment; and Abelardo Moreno from Foreign Relations, among other Cuban authorities and specialists.
