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Guyanese hold ‘Thank You Walk’ for Cuban Medical Brigade
(Kaieteur News) – Supporters gathered Sunday evening for a “Thank You Walk and Rally” organised by the Coalition for Solidarity with Cuba, in a public show of appreciation for the decades-long contribution of the Cuban Medical Brigade to Guyana’s healthcare system.
Participants take part in the march and rally in Georgetown on Sunday.
The event began with a walk- through central Georgetown and culminated in a rally, followed by an evening of films, discussion and refreshments at the Guerrilla Nanobrewery on Charlotte Street, Georgetown.
The coalition, which includes the Guyana Trades Union Congress, Haiti Support Group of Guyana, National Farmers’ Organisation, Organisation for the Victory of the People and Red Thread, said the activity was intended to publicly express gratitude to the Government and people of Cuba.
Participants highlighted the role Cuban medical professionals have played in Guyana over several decades, particularly in hinterland and underserved communities. Organisers noted that Cuban doctors were often deployed in areas where local practitioners were reluctant to serve, helping to expand access to healthcare in remote regions.
The coalition also underscored the impact of Cuba’s medical scholarship programme, through which hundreds of Guyanese have received training, especially in medicine, at Cuban institutions. Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Jorge Francisco Soberón Luis, attended the event.
In addition to expressing appreciation, organisers used the platform to call on the administration of President Irfaan Ali to reverse its decision to terminate the longstanding arrangement with Cuba for the deployment of medical personnel. They urged the government to reinstate the programme, arguing that the services provided by the brigade remain vital to the country’s healthcare delivery, particularly in rural and hinterland areas. The coalition further appealed for the continuation of scholarship opportunities for Guyanese students to study in Cuba, warning against any move that could limit access to overseas medical training.
Speakers also broadened their message to include concerns about Cuba’s current economic and humanitarian challenges, pointing to international criticism of longstanding sanctions. They called on the Government of Guyana to join global voices advocating for an end to restrictions affecting the island, which they said have contributed to severe shortages impacting healthcare, transportation and electricity. The Cuban Medical Brigade has been a feature of Guyana’s public health system for decades, forming part of broader bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Guyana has historically relied on Cuban-trained and Cuban-based medical professionals to supplement its workforce, particularly in specialties and regions where local capacity has been limited.
Sunday’s demonstration, organisers said, was both a tribute to that legacy and a call to preserve what they described as a critical partnership in healthcare and human development.
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