CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

Fidel Welcomed the Cuban Moto Mendez Medical Brigade.

CUBA, August 18th, 2010.- Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz welcomed on Tuesday night the “Motto Mendez” medical brigade that was carrying out a psychosocial and clinical-genetic study in Bolivia, which it concluded on August 13 in honor of the 84th birthday of the leader of the Cuban Revolution.

At the number five terminal of the international airport in his capital, Fidel congratulated the 213 internationalists, and each of them received an autographed copy of his book “The Strategic Victory.”

Notably moved, the members of this brigade of solidarity that visited over one and a half million homes in 163 days and spoke with over five million people -82,087 of them with different types of disability-, listened to a message from the Cuban leader, in which he highlighted the commendable work of those who described as “combatants for the health of people who’re born with diminished capacity.”

“You have faced truly severe cases, such as people who were born blind and deaf, and have never seen a ray of light nor heard as sound; people who have had no contact with life despite being born. Those two simple senses are enough to feel happy, sing and communicate with others, or simply to live”, asserted Fidel.

“The people you treat, suffering from a wide range of adversities, reward you with the happiness that comes from doing good –something that all the gold in the world cannot buy- and demonstrating how human beings can go beyond their instincts to become a symbol of generosity and virtue”, he stated.

“This is the only way to describe your tireless battle, in the face of extreme heat, rain and hazards; through forests and swamps, and defying the cold and snows of steep mountains to help those who could not do without you, as today you cannot do without them,” he stressed.

Fidel announced that, within two weeks, part of these voluntary workers will leave for Ecuador, where other compatriots are immersed in the same battle, working along with doctors from that fraternal nation.

“Our force, which has brought happiness to close to 800,000 people in Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua, is but a wisp of what can be done by the peoples of this hemisphere and around the world without charging a single cent,” emphasized Fidel.

“The most important aspect of this endeavor is the example to young people who, together with you, have begun to undertake this task within their own nation and in other countries,” he declared sententiously.

“Throughout its history the (US) empire has not been able to, not could it ever assist even one percent of this figure. What use is such a system?; this is why, with so much pleasure and as a brother, I have signed my signature next to the name of each one of you,” concluded the Commander in Chief.

Deputy Health Minister Roberto Gonzalez highlighted the presence of Fidel, who inspired the study on disabilities, which began in Cuba, and presented the Brigade with a certificate for the work done in those Andean lands.

Doctor Odalys Bravo, head of the team, reported the Commander about the work of the “Moto Mendez” Brigade in Bolivia, where it carried out more than 10,000 genetic consultations and 15,000 of other specialties, and visited over five million people.

This is one of your dreams come true, she told the leader of the Revolution. (Cubaminrex-  ACN)