In a letter, Lula congratulates the President of Cuba for sending doctors to Italy to work on efforts against the pandemic.
"It is in times of crisis that we recognize the truly great. And in those moments, the people of this island always rise to the occasion before the world," wrote former President Lula in a letter sent to the President of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel.
247 - Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote a letter to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, congratulating the Cuban government for sending doctors to Italy to help combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the European country. Italy is the European country that has suffered the most from the spread of the disease on the continent, registering around 7 deaths so far.
“I am writing to express the emotion I felt upon seeing the image of the Cuban doctors arriving in Italy to help in the relief efforts for the victims of the coronavirus pandemic in that country,” Lula says in the letter. “It is in moments of crisis that we recognize the truly great. And in these times, the people of this island always rise to the occasion before the world,” the former president observes in the text.
Cuba sent a group of 52 doctors and nurses to the Lombardy region, the most affected by the pandemic in Italy, to help fight the disease. The professionals landed on Sunday (22) to applause from residents of the region. In addition to the Cubans, another 12 Chinese doctors are also working in a field hospital in the Bergamo region, the capital of Lombardy.
In another excerpt, Lula recalls the importance of the Mais Médicos program, which was attacked by President Jair Bolsonaro even before he took office. "The Brazilian people will be eternally grateful for the role they played in our Mais Médicos program, a cooperation that saved countless lives and taught our own healthcare professionals so much," Lula said.
Read the full letter:
SSão Bernardo, Brazil,
March 23th, 2020
Dear President Miguel Díaz-Canel,
I am writing to express the emotion I felt upon seeing the image of Cuban doctors arriving in Italy to help in the relief efforts for victims of the coronavirus pandemic in that country.
Once again, the Cuban government and people are giving the world an example of solidarity, overcoming all barriers, whether economic, geographical, or political.
It is in times of crisis that we recognize the truly great. And in those moments, the people of this island always rise to the occasion in the eyes of the world.
Cuba's active, militant, and revolutionary solidarity has already made its presence felt in various parts of the world, in a proud and sovereign response to those who attempt to impose an economic blockade and political isolation upon it.
The Brazilian people will be eternally grateful for the role they played in our Mais Médicos program, a collaboration that saved countless lives and taught our own healthcare professionals so much.
That cooperation was brutally interrupted by a government that was petty towards the people and blinded by an individualistic and inhumane ideology.
In this time of crisis with the coronavirus, unfortunately in the most painful way for our people, everyone is having to recognize how much we miss the work of our Cuban medical colleagues.
I ask, dear comrade Díaz-Canel, that you convey to the Cuban men and women, especially to the scientists and healthcare professionals who are in this fight for life around the world, the recognition, admiration, and gratitude of the Brazilian people.
We will be together, always, until victory.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva