“We have been able to see in this time the patriotism of our people, of the health care staff, of scientists, of all those involved in the pinpoint operation of supplying oxygen, people who are working full time in complex environments. Thank you!” tweeted the First Secretary of the Communist Party and President of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
When it comes to the life of the people, Cuba spares no effort. When it comes to surviving a pandemic, to overcoming the cruelty of the blockade and of the measures imposed and kept on our country by a Government that wants to brings Cuba on its knees, this island that refuses to let others rule its destiny, has shown great intelligence, creativity and courage.
This speaks of the way Cubans are facing the exceptional situation with the oxygen supply following a breaking in its main production plant and the rise of cases due to the spread of more contagious strains of the virus that causes COVID-19. Nobody sleeps in the Command Center to ensure the supply of oxygen to the health centers in the country.
On Sunday August 15, 2021, the President of the Republic of Cuba toured the oxygen producing facilities of the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR in Spanish), located in the air force base of San Antonio de los Baños, and the Gas Basic Business Unit in Havana, the largest in the western region of the country.
And this visit made all fear vanished in the face of the certainty that there are lots of people working and taking risks to save lives.
The mission to begin the production of oxygen to support the hospital networks in the provinces of Artemisa and Mayabeque was assigned in the month of May to the Playa Girón, Antonio Maceo Order, On-Duty Aviation Unit in San Antonio de los Baños.
Once more, the Revolutionary Armed Forces protect the people. This is something the MINFAR’s head of department Coronel Sergio Marco Herrera Pérez explained to Granma newspapers during a recent visit, that when he was assigned the task by the member of the Political Bureau and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces General of the Army Corps Álvaro López Miera, the plants for oxygen production of the army countrywide were put at the service of the people.
In the Playa Girón On-Duty Air Force, the production process, in which officers of the unit and from other parts of the country are involved, lasts 20 days non-stop, 24 hours split in several work shifts; after that period of time, they perform a technical inspection.
Due to oxygen’s inflammable and explosive qualities, this facility is considered high risk. “Our main job here is to solve any problem in the facility in the shortest time possible, as well as observe and strictly comply with all the established safety measures to avoid accidents,” said the first non-commissioned officer José Roberto Abad Guilbuaux, Gas and Electricity technician and a member of the maintenance and repair brigade.
Everyone is doing their task, which they know is crucial. The head of Gas and Electricity Lieutenant Coronel Boris Portuondo Tartabull, has expressed they would continue to assist the hospital networks every time it is needed. “We are supplying life to our people, this unit knows very well what is their mission.” Like them, many more work to fulfill this mission.
Translated by ESTI
