Havana, August 31 (RHC)-- A 16-member Cuban brigade of medical doctors, epidemiologists, nurses, as well as construction and electrical engineers departed early on Monday to the Caribbean island nation of Dominica to assist those affected by the recent passage of Tropical Storm Erika.

The head of the brigade, Doctor Norberto Ramos, told reporters that the Cubans will work in disaster areas and took all necessary resources along with them, including more than one ton of medicines.

Some brigade members returned this year from West Africa where they fought the Ebola epidemic. Yovany Vera is one of them and he told reporters that Cuba is always present where needed.

The group will join another 11 doctors currently working in Dominica in what is known as an Integral Health Program.

Reports say that rescue workers in Dominica are trying to reach several communities which are still isolated due to floods and landslides caused by Erika, which left more than 20 deaths on the island nation.

Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said that the declaration of Special Disaster Areas was established following the loss of lives and the huge property damage caused by the storm, which hit the country August 26th and 27th for more than five hours.