The 11th "Victoria de Girón" Volunteer Work Brigade of the Finland-Cuba Friendship Association has arrived at the Mártires de Las Tunas Pediatric Hospital.
Las Tunas, Cuba.- The brigade members were interested in health strategies during the two most intense years of the COVID-19 pandemic, which Cuba went through. In particular, they learned that more than two million doses of nationally produced vaccines against the disease have already been administered in this eastern Cuban province.
“It is always an honor to arrive in Las Tunas. We are here today offering our solidarity because Cuba is not alone. Arriving after two years of the pandemic and giving our contribution motivates us," said Tomi Kuhanen, the first vice president of the Finland-Cuba Friendship Association.
“I am an official of a provincial government in my country, and I am always attentive to the issues related to health. Seeing firsthand how -with so few resources- they reorganize and do it in Cuba has been a truly positive experience,” adds Jouni Sirén, the second vice president of the government in the Finnish province of Pirkanmaa.
The brigade has been working for several days to improve the conditions of the Intermediate Care Unit, as part of a rehabilitation and repair project in that assistance area. The Mártires de Las Tunas Provincial Pediatric Hospital, with nearly 130 capacities for patient admission, is committed to reorganizing its services.
The actions are concentrated in hydro-sanitary connections, electrical installations, air conditioning, painting, and false ceiling. All the sanitary furniture in the room was changed and the climate equipment was donated by the brigade. As part of their contributions, the activists have brought also toys and assistance materials.
The volunteer work days are streamlined to leave the multipurpose progressive care unit ready in the shortest possible time. More than a hundred pediatric patients are admitted during the month to receive the necessary care services according to their health conditions. Representatives of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), workers from the center, and the Pineda García private company, dedicated to construction works also participate in the voluntary labor.
