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Dr. Leni Villagómez Reeves, left, Gloria La Riva, Hatuey
coordinator, center, Susana Llovet, Cuban Red Cross, second from
right
U.S. activists travel to Cuba
with emergency medicine delivery
Dear Friends,
On Friday, August 26, The Hatuey
Project and ANSWER Coalition successfully delivered a shipment of
medicines and equipment to help in the treatment of the people who
suffered serious burns in the massive Supertanker oil fire in
Matanzas, Cuba. Four tanks carrying millions of gallons of fuel were
consumed by flames after a lightning strike, starting August 5.
Hundreds of people were burned. Tragically, 14 firefighters died
fighting the fire.
As soon as the giant fire became
news, ANSWER and the Hatuey Project issued an emergency appeal for
donations, together with other solidarity organizations anxious to
extend material solidarity to Cuba. Venezuela and Mexico sent
firefighters. Other countries have also offered substantial help. Dr.
Nadia Marsh, a member of ANSWER, arrived in Cuba to join the
delegation. Dr. Marsh and Dr. Villagómez Reeves provided the medical
advice for the shipment and rallied colleagues to join the effort.
Many supporters of ANSWER and Hatuey heard the call and donated to
make this aid possible.
Arriving
at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, Dr. Leni Villagómez
Reeves and Gloria La Riva were met by officials of the Cuban Red
Cross, the Ministry of Health, Medicuba and the Cuban Institute of
Friendship with the Peoples, to receive the shipment. The Cuban Red
Cross is the official recipient to work in the immediate distribution
of the goods for the burn patients.
Among the medicines and equipment
are 360 bags of Lactated Ringer’s Injection solution, 750 IV
administration sets, 600 20g IV needle/catheters, 600 18g IV
needle/catheters, 110 vials of Piperacillin/tazobactam antibiotics,
6,000 pairs of surgical gloves, 4 pounds of Mafenid ointment for more
complex burns, 150 tubes Bacitracin, burn gauzes and rolls. Part of an
earlier donation of Benadryl and vitamins by Hatuey were also directed
for those patients.
Dr. Daymí Martínez Naranjo,
director of Faustino Pérez Hospital in Matanzas; Dr. Maximiliano
Prieto Gutiérrez, first grade specialist plastic surgeon; chief nurse
Yadarí Calzadilla Delgado; Gloria La Riva; Dr. Elena Robaina
Rodríguez, hospital vice-director. Dr. Prieto and Nurse Calzadilla are
heading the patients' recovery efforts.
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