With caution but also a good dose of optimism we record that the number of new ones contagions in one of the areas of Lombardy most affected by the Coronavirus emergency, the province of Crema, remains well below the alarm threshold. And the number of patients admitted to the Maggiore hospital regularly decreases. In the light of these data, the general manager of the territorial social health company Germano Pellegata announced in these days the departure of the 52 Cuban doctors arrived to the rescue of Italy on March 22 to manage the Cremasco field hospital set up specifically for Covid -19 patients.

field hospital - doctors with masks
Maggiore Hospital of Crema (Facebook)

The support of the Cuban team was crucial, during their stay the doctors all distinguished themselves for a sense of humanity, for the kindness and professionalism with which they proposed to difficult patients, some very serious, and all equally lost in front of a evil at the time unknown. "We feel lucky because in addition to professionals we have met brothers. Their contribution was fundamental". It is the greeting that Stefania Bonaldi, mayor of Crema, reserved for the Brigade. In fact the work of the Henry Reeve (this is the name of the team) had already finished a couple of weeks ago. The doctors, however, wanted to observe a guarantee self-quarantine before taking the plane and returning home.

La gratitude towards the 52 Cuban professionals came from all the hospital staff but also, with force, from citizenship. "Two weeks ago we organized some events to greet them and we started a fundraiser to support a pediatric hospital in Havana. And despite their swab was negative, the doctors preferred to respect the quarantine period before leaving. At dawn we got on their bus with the Cuban flag in our hands and with shining eyes to thank them once again, but we like to think it was just goodbye and not goodbye, because we will continue to do beautiful things together. " They are still words of the mayor, words that are moved and sincerely grateful.

field hospital - civil defense soldiers
Civil Protection Facebook

The Crema field hospital, set up by Health Department of the Italian Army in mid-March and dismantled at the end of May, it was located in the parking lot between the Ospedale Maggiore and the former court. It has been operational since 24 March, a couple of days after the brigade's landing at Malpensa. The press was informed of the costs incurred for the support of the Cubans and the 35 soldiers who managed the facilities and logistics of the temporary structure: 1.300 euros per day for the Brigade and another 1.000 for soldiers and officers. In two months, around 130.000 euros. Really little considered the human effort of all of them, and above all the good that came from it.

In managing the Coronavirus emergency, the field hospital was fundamental. So of course his staff. His 32 beds plus another three for intensive care were all occupied within a few days of setting up. The temporary structure was transformed in just three months into a hospital which has welcomed a large number of Covid patients in a province that has registered one case for every 68 inhabitants, i.e. over 2.000 infected and 900 official deaths. An impressive mortality, rarely recorded in other world cities. For this the effort and humanity of doctors is priceless. Thanks to them, therefore, infinitely. And thanks Cuba, of course.

The Cuban Henry Reeve Brigade greets the Crema field hospital last edit: 2020-06-11T13:00:00+02:00 da Mariangela Cutrone

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