COVID-19: Friendship Association donates over USD 66,000 to Cuba

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At the ceremony. Photo: VNT

After more than 2 weeks of raising fund, from April 8-25, the campaign has received enthusiastic response from many organizations, individuals, collectives, businesses, people once studied and lived in Cuba.

Apart from cash donation, they also handed-over 2,000 bottles of hand sanitizer.

Speaking at the ceremony, VCFA Standing Vice President, Assoc. Dr. Nguyen Viet Thao applauded Cuba's achievements in the prevention of COVID-19, expressing his admiration for the example of international solidarity of the Cuban Party, State and people in sending medical experts to support the prevention of COVID-19 in many countries around the world despite many economic and social difficulties Cuba are experiencing.

The VCFA Standing Vice President emphasized the gift is the dedication, sincere affection of the Vietnamese people in general and of individuals, collectives, businesses, those who have studied and worked in Cuba and others who love Cuba, want to help the Cuban people get through this challenging times.

At the same time, he expressed his belief that Cuba will overcome difficulties and win the battle against COVID-19.

On behalf of alumni once studied and worked in Cuba, Tran Thanh Dong, Chairman of the Vietnamese Alumni Club in Cuba, said: “It is a modest amount of money, nowhere near a solution to the difficulties that Cuban friends are facing, but it is the hearts for our dearest brothers and sisters”.

The Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP) and the Cuban-Vietnam Friendship Association will be Cuban partners representing the Cuban people to receive this gift.

For her part, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Lianys Torres Rivera thanked the Vietnamese people in general, the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and the Vietnam Alumni Club in particular for the meaningful initiative.

The Ambassador emphasized that the fight against COVID-19 is where solidarity is confirmed, which is the main vaccine to combat pandemics and epidemics, and the best medicine to cure them. The solidarity gifts of Vietnamese people will be a great source of spiritual encouragement and support to Cuba in the current difficult situation.

Cuba, which has confirmed ,1337 cases of the virus at home and 51 deaths, has one of the world’s highest number of doctors per capita and is renowned for its focus on prevention, community-oriented primary health care and preparedness to fight epidemics.

The country has sent around 1,200 healthcare workers largely to vulnerable African and Caribbean nations but also to rich European countries such as Italy that have been particularly hard hit by the novel coronavirus.

Cuba has sent its “armies of white robes” to disaster sites and disease outbreaks around the world largely in poor countries since its 1959 leftist revolution. Its doctors were in the front lines in the fight against cholera in Haiti and against ebola in West Africa in the 2010s.

Vietnam has reported no new cases of the coronavirus during the past 12 hours, keeping its cumulative tally at 270, the Ministry of Health said in its update at 6pm on April 27.

Earlier, the Party and Government of Vietnam had a gesture of brotherhood and special solidarity towards Cuba by donating 5,000 tons of rice to help them solve the food difficulties amid the fight against the novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Several friendship associations under the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) have shown solidarity with international friends in combating COVID-19, by mobilizing funds from individials and businesses in Vietnam to purchase medical supplies as well as raising cash donations.

The aid illustrates Vietnam’s continued willingness to assist other countries on a bilateral and multilateral basis to the best of its abilities even as it continues to remain cautious about managing its own coronavirus challenge at home./.

Vietnamese version: https://thoidai.com.vn/viet-nam-trao-hon-15-ty-dong-giup-nhan-dan-cuba-chong-dai-dich-covid-19-107096.html

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