More than 40 European organisations are backing a proposal to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Cuban medical brigades of the Henry Reeve Contingent, for their contribution to the global battle against COVID-19.
Launched April 28 by the associations Cuba Linda and France Cuba, the initiative has thus far received the support of solidarity groups, political organizations and unions in France, Spain, Ireland and Italy, and thousands of Internet users on the Facebook page “Prix Nobel de la paix pour les brigades médicales cubaines Henry Reeve.”
Some supporters of the effort to recognize Cuban physicians advocate extending the campaign with an international committee.
Joining the effort recently were the Bocas del Ródano Departmental Union of the General Confederation of Labor of France, the Toulouse France-Cuba Committee, the Spanish Euskadi-Cuba, Cubainformación.tv, Communists of Catalonia, and the National Association of Friendship Italy-Cuba.
The initiative is also supported by Cuba Cooperation France, Cuba Yes France, Ardennes-Cuba, Montpellier Cuba Solidarity, Bolivarian Circle of Paris, ALBA-France Collective, Children of Cuba Marseille, Cuban Roots of France, Arac-Cuba-Solidarity, the France-Cuba Friendship Group in the National Assembly and the Revolutionary Communist Party of France.
Friends of Cuba in Charente-Maritime, the Movement against Racism and for Friendship among Peoples, the Parisian Solidarity with Lula Committee, Communist Grouping, and Brazilian Workers’ Party supporters in Paris have also expressed their support.
From other parts of the world, the International Committee for Peace, Justice and Dignity for the Peoples, the Cuba Support Group (Ireland) and the Valencian José Martí Association of Friendship with Cuba (Spain) signed the nomination, as well.
This is not the first instance in which Cuba has came to the aide of countries in the face of crises or pandemics. In 2014, during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Cuba was first to respond and sent the largest medical contingent. Over 10,000 Cuban medical professionals volunteered for the mission.
There are dozens more examples of Cuban solidarity brigades since the Revolution, from Pakistan, to Puerto Rico. Following the events of Hurricane Katrina, Cuba offered to send aid, but the US refused. Happy to let thousands die, and live in misery, rather than accept the support of the dreaded communists.
Over the last fifty years, Cuban medical intervention has saved the lives of millions, and improved countless more. By 2014, Cuban medical professionals had performed 1.2 billion consultations overseas, attended 2.2 million births, and performed over eight million surgeries.
Challenge News Desk
