News of the tragedy was disseminated rapidly: March 25, 2015, a storm which produced 17 floods inundated entire towns in the municipality of Atacama, Chile, leaving 26 dead, 120 missing and 30,000 homeless.
Michelle Bachelet’s government described the situation as one of the country’s worst tragedies in 80 years, estimating damages of 1.5 billion dollars.
Those who first arrived to help were young Chilean doctors who had studied at the Latin American School of Medicine in Havana, (ELAM). They set up tent hospitals and immediately began educational and monitoring campaigns to prevent epidemiological problems.
On April 9, a small contingent of 17 Cubans arrived - doctors, epidemiologists and nurses from the Henry Reeve Brigade, specially trained in responding to disasters and serious epidemics, sent to Chile to support those affected by the floods.
Cuba’s Minister of Public Health Roberto Morales Ojeda spoke during a farewell ceremony for the group, saying, “You will surely know how to uphold the name of our country, of our people, of the Revolution, and the Cuban public health system, as have the more than 325,000 healthcare workers who have completed missions over all of these years.”
Chilean deputy Lautaro Carmona visited the site where the Cuban brigade was working to observe the effort, and noted the preventative community work underway, with brigade members going door to door to monitor the epidemiological situation. He praised their solidarity and the training which prepared them to work in remote and difficult to access areas, setting up their equipment under less than optimal conditions, to attend to the population.
Dr. Carlos Pérez, head of the Cuban brigade, explained that the group has been focusing on preventative work, and medical assistance for those suffering from colds, allergies and respiratory infections. No epidemics have emerged to date.
Granma International contacted several Chileans via e-mail, including the municipality of Valdivia’s social director, Patricio Alarcón Barrientos, who thanked the Cuban government and people for the humanitarian aid provided to his compatriots, lamenting that the country’s principal media outlets have ignored the gesture, which has been publicized only on a few alternative websites. He said, “This reflects poorly on the communications media, which in their majority don’t have the character to recognize acts of solidarity such as this.”
ELAM graduate Gloria Cosgrove Concha reported that the Cuban brigade is working primarily in the town of Paipote and the Atacama Plains, accompanied by Chilean colleagues who were granted leave from their regular assignments.
“This is not the first time that Chilean men and women receive solidarity and support from Cuba during a catastrophe,” wrote Myriam Verdugo Godoy, a Santiago de Chile journalist, responsible for the Matta cultural center, recalling Cuban medical collaboration in 1961 and 2010, following devastating earthquakes.
She added, “Of course there is gratitude for the solidarity of the doctors who with their work alleviate the pain of those who lost their families, houses and jobs. They contribute to preventing epidemic outbreaks and, with their talent and solidarity, make the days less hard for the affected. We appreciate the Cuban people’s attitude, always ready to help.”
