When it comes to the case of Africa, only few people care and only few countries outside the continent remember Africa. Cubans are always among the very few people who care and Cuba is always among the very few countries who step in to help Africa. Cuba has been Africa's friend in need for a very long time. Even during Africa's struggle for independence, Cuba was there to help. It is another great time of need and Cuba is already in Africa to help.
The Ebola virus disease is spreading like wild fire across West Africa. Thousands of people have lost their lives and thousands more are waiting on fate. Western countries including the United States of America are tightening their borders so as to prevent Ebola patients from entering their countries.
This is infact a very good move because it will help prevent the spread of the Ebola virus disease to western countries. China has blocked all Ebola-stricken countries in Africa from entry. In other words, No person from an Ebola-stricken country in Africa is permitted entry into China at this time. This also is a very good move considering China's population size. Ebola can release a very severe blow should it get access to mainstream China.
The United States of America is tightening its borders. In fact, people from Ebola-stricken countries in Africa are given special treatments at airports such as the J.F.K airport in New York. At the J.F.K airport for example, people from Ebola-stricken countries are forced to get their temperature taken and health documents checked before allowing entry. This is also a very good move considering the fact that the virus has already entered America killing a patient. In other words, western countries are doing great in securing their borders. However, when it comes to fighting the virus in the Ebola-stricken zones, western countries do not seem to care that much. In fact, some western countries do not care at all.
Australia has made it very clear that it is not ready to send its health workers into harm's way. In other words, Australia is not going to send its health workers to any Ebola-stricken zone because of the fear of the virus. Although the response has been very slow, the United States unlike Australia has committed money and several resources to the fight against Ebola. China is only busy securing its borders and countries like Russia and Germany are far asleep and cannot be bothered at all as far as Ebola is concerned.
However, despite the painful rejection by some western countries, it may surprise you to know that Africa is not alone in this fight. Cuba has joined the fight. It would be very unfair to continue this article without given some credit to the charity organization 'Doctors without Borders', also known as the Medecins Sans Frontieres. This charity organization until now has been the only external help for Ebola patients. Doctors Without Borders although lacking greatly in resources and medical personnel, has helped a lot in the fight against Ebola in places like Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
According to the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, "We need a 20-fold resource mobilization," and "We need at least a 20-fold surge in assistance – mobile laboratories, vehicles, helicopters, protective equipment, trained medical personnel, and medevac capacities." The sad truth however is that, big hitters such as China , Brazil, and former colonial powers such as France and the UK, have not been stepping up to the plate. Instead, the single biggest medical force on the Ebola frontline has been a small island: Cuba. Cuba a small island of just 11 million people has taken the lead in the fight against Ebola while giant advanced nations like China, Brazil, Russia, Australia, etc., just stand and watch.