Despaigne was accompanied by the head of the Cuban Medical Brigade in Tanzania, Juan Miguel Arias Reyes, and was welcomed by Hospital Director Alphonce B. Chandika, who praised the selfless work of the Cuban physicians in the institution.

Participants in the meeting discussed the historic ties between Cuba and Tanzania, which have held diplomatic relations for six decades.

They also spoke of mutual solidarity as well as the possibilities of increasing Cuban medical collaboration in Tanzania, according to a statement from the Cuban Embassy.

The meeting took place on the same day that the Cuban ambassador presented its credentials to Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the State House in Dar es Salaam, the country’s largest city.

On the occasion, Despaigne also ratified Cuba’s willingness to work to strengthen political-diplomatic relations and bilateral economic and commercial ties.

The Tanzanian leader expressed her country’s desire to raise economic relations to the political level and acknowledged Cuba’s support in areas such as health care and human resource training, which contributes to the development of Tanzania.

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