Doha, Qatar.– Far away, in the heart of this Arab nation, there is a place that beats with a rhythm familiar to Cuban ears. The people here, with their ancestral hospitality, talk about Dukhan: its spectacular beaches, the land that one day changed their destiny... But if you listen more closely, amid this story of progress, another name emerges, something more enduring, more human: they talk about the Cuban hospital.
It is surprising to imagine it standing tall in this arid immensity, but when you arrive and see two flags flying at its entrance: that of Qatar and that of Cuba, all doubt vanishes. It is a piece of our island planted in a small town near Doha.
And within those walls, excellence and good treatment have a Caribbean accent, as was confirmed during the tour of this emblematic site by Manuel Marrero Cruz, member of the Political Bureau and Prime Minister, together with the delegation that accompanied him to this country.
As they discovered each space, the head of government asked about the beds available, the living conditions of the Cuban doctors, the academic paths through which they can improve themselves, the sharing of experiences, and how the collaborators grew to break down language and technological barriers.
Almost all of its workers are Cuban, men and women who bring with them that vocation for service that is cultivated in our land. This was evident when listening to Tania María Fernández Hernández, the hospital's medical director, who said that this is a community institution that serves the western area of Qatar. "It is a large hospital, although it only has 72 beds for hospitalization, but it covers most of the surgical and clinical services that exist in a hospital."
She also referred to "the tremendous pride that our country is a small part of Qatar and that this is the only center that flies both flags. It is very impressive to arrive every morning and see them both flying at the same time. It is also a source of pride that patients know how to say the name of our hospital in their own language and also in Arabic."
The recognition that this prestigious institution has received is not only for its professionalism; it is for the care with which each injection is given, for the patience in each explanation, for the dedication that turns a medical act into a gesture of genuine brotherhood. And these results are a source of satisfaction shared by the authorities of both nations.
"When people come here, they don't want to be discharged; they want to stay longer. Cuban doctors and nurses spoil their patients," said Hussain Al-Ishaq, executive director and representative of Hamad Medical Corporation, with great joy, adding that this is a sign of the love, respect, and affection they have for what they are doing. "When we hold meetings, they all end with 'Viva Cuba'."
ALWAYS ON THE FRONT LINE
Many testimonies and feelings emerged from our healthcare staff during the meeting with the Prime Minister. Theirs are reassuring smiles, expert hands that heal and comfort under a sun and heat that is not theirs, but which belongs to them in the name of solidarity.
Nurse Felipe Fonseca Valdés assured that "we will continue working and giving the best of our knowledge and training so that the hospital always holds the name of our homeland high." Meanwhile, Dailin Castiñeira López, a specialist in orthodontics, explained how mutual support is the key to achieving results. "You can continue to trust us. We will continue to incorporate elements of our preventive medicine here in Qatar, and we will continue to do so as we have done until now, with the same quality and dedication."
For her part, nurse Marina de la Torre, director of medical, surgical, and dialysis admission services at the hospital, pointed out that most of the collaborators had completed previous missions, "but nothing compares to this reality. This is a mission that helps you overcome the language barrier, grow as a person, and shows you that if you don't work as a team, you won't succeed."
She also announced that, at the end of this month, a group of collaborators will present nursing papers at the Arab congress and, in January, at the National Health Congress. "All this has been achieved through the effort, sacrifice, and study of those of us here. Today, you can leave with peace of mind knowing that these colleagues are on the front lines."
That is why the largest of the Antilles is a source of pride in every conversation with hospital patients; it is confidence with living evidence of our greatest wealth: the hearts of our people, capable of turning a hospital into a home. That is why the meeting between the Head of Government and those who work here, as well as those who work at the Aisha bint Hamad Al Attiyah Hospital, was so heartwarming.
The Head of Government provided all of them with information on the situation in the country and the preliminary effects of Hurricane Melissa, which affected the eastern provinces. He also discussed the implementation of the Government Program to correct distortions and boost the economy, which will be strengthened by the opinion of the people in a popular consultation.
Marrero Cruz shared with those present the measures that have been adopted to overcome economic complexities and circumvent the real and cruel impact of the blockade imposed by the United States on our homeland. He also acknowledged the good state of medical cooperation with Qatar, the "most vivid" fruit and "the best tribute to the legacy of friendship" founded by the Emir Father, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, and Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.
"Your work is immense. You bring Cuban reality to this isolated place. You are, I would say, the greatest reference point and the factor that most influences our ability to advance to a higher level in relations between the two countries. You have set an example, you have shown what Cuba is," said Marrero Cruz.
This is the legacy of love that has been built over more than ten years at the Cuban hospital in Dukhan, and which was evident in the message left in the institution's guest book by the Prime Minister for the more than 1,200 collaborators who work in this Arab nation. "I am proud of what you do. You are an example for Cuba and the world. History will ensure that your great contribution to the homeland is highly valued. Our eternal gratitude."
