The Cuban Dr. Felix Baez Sarria, who got infected with Ebola in Sierra Leone, returned last Saturday to Havana after being released from Geneva University Hospital .
Baez came from Switzerland in a regular Air France flight and was received at José Martí International Airport by Cuban Health Minister, Dr. Roberto Morales Ojeda, his family and the press.
In his first statement, the specialist in Internal Medicine said he would return to West Africa to “finish what he started.” He also thanked the World Health Organization (WHO), health personnel who treated him and the government and people of Cuba by their support.
Last Friday, the Geneva University Hospital issued a statement reporting the overall improvement of the Cuban doctor, confirmed by laboratory tests without fear of contagion.
Baez integrated the “Henry Reeve” brigade and is part of the more than 200 physicians serving in West Africa to face the epidemic of Ebola. So far over 6,000 people have died from this cause and 17,256 cases were detected, according to WHO.
Social networks were flooded with messages of respect for Felix Baez and his fellow missionaries, and personalities of the world have expressed their admiration for the humanitarian work undertaken by Cuba, including John Kerry, American Secretary of State.
