The Cuban Medical Brigade’s presence in Guyana has grown significantly, with 240 Cuban healthcare professionals, including 144 nurses, now deployed across the country, according to the Ministry of Finance’s mid-year report for 2024. This marks a notable increase from the 192 Cuban medical personnel stationed in Guyana at the end of 2023.
The expansion of the Cuban Medical Brigade is part of a broader strategy to meet the growing demands of Guyana’s healthcare system, which continues to face human resource shortages. Cuba’s healthcare professionals have long played an essential role in providing medical services, especially in underserved regions, and this increase in personnel comes at a time when the Government of Guyana is ramping up efforts to strengthen its healthcare workforce.
The legacy of the Cuban Medical Brigade was highlighted in a 2023 interview with Cuban Ambassador to Guyana, Jorge Francisco Soberón Luis, who detailed Cuba’s longstanding commitment to global medical cooperation. Since 1960, Cuba has partnered with 165 nations, deploying over 605,000 healthcare professionals and technicians to address public health challenges, disasters, and crises. This international collaboration continues to be a vital lifeline for countries like Guyana, where Cuban medical personnel have become an integral part of the healthcare system.
The recent increase in Cuban specialists, including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, reflects the effectiveness of Cuba’s international medical assistance model. The Brigade’s expansion helps bridge critical gaps in Guyana’s healthcare system, as the government also focuses on training its own cadre of healthcare workers.
For 2024, over 3,000 nurses are expected to begin training, with contracts signed for the construction of new health science training facilities in New Amsterdam and Suddie to accommodate the growing demand for healthcare education.
These combined efforts—the presence of Cuban medical professionals and the push to train local healthcare workers—signal a robust strategy to enhance healthcare delivery in Guyana.
