Rome, July 11 (RHC)-- The farewell activities of the Cuban medical brigade that for three months helped face the COVID-19 pandemic in Turin, Italy began this Saturday with a ceremony in Piazza Ernesto Che Guevara in the Italian city of Colegno.

According to Prensa Latina news agency, the mayor of the small city belonging to the Turin metropolitan area, Franceso Casciano, presided over the emotional gathering in which the 38 Cuban health collaborators, the Cuban ambassador to Italy, Jose Carlos Rodriguez, and other officials of that diplomatic mission participated.

Also present at the activity held next to the monument dedicated to Ernesto Che Guevara and the fallen combatants with him in Bolivia were representatives of the National Association of Italian-Cuban Friendship and the Association for Cultural and Economic Exchange with Cuba.

Welcoming the Cuban health professionals who are members of the Henry Reeve Contingent, Casciano thanked them for the noble gesture of coming to the aid of Italy and in particular the region of Piedmont, which has been severely hit by the pandemic.

For his part, the head of the brigade, Dr. Julio Guerra, thanked them for their hospitality and expressed the willingness of the Cuban health collaborators to provide their services again in Italy when necessary.