This development was unveiled on Friday 27th March 2026 at a reception hosted by the Cuban Embassy in The Gambia bringing together Cuban health personnel and representatives of the health sector.
This batch of doctors include- haematologists, gynecologists, biomedical engineers, pathologists, comprehensive medical doctors and physiotherapists.
In an interview with The Point, Her Excellency, Carmelina Ramirez Rodriquez, Ambassador of Cuba in The Gambia, emphasised that the reception was organised to help the new batch and officials from the Ministry to familiarise themselves with each other.
She said they would serve in the country for a three-year period, which could be extended depending on the necessities of The Gambia government.
Ambassador Rodriquez thus underscored the bilateral ties that bind Havana and Banjul, recalling that Cuba and The Gambia started their medical cooperation in 1996.
This year, she said, the two countries will celebrate 30 years of their cooperation.
Mustapha Bittaye, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), revealed that most of the Cuban brigades serve at the EFSTH, where they have been effectively responding to the needs of the nation's health sector.
"We want to be there for them to allow them efficiently do their job," he assured. "From experience, the Cuban brigades do not cause problems and they do go by the rules," he said.
CMD Bittaye praised the Cuban brigades for going the extra mile through odd hours in serving humanity and further thanked the Ambassador and her government for their continued support to Gambia's health sector.
