student doctors
5 October 2007
A new batch of would-be doctors from the Eastern Cape will be packing their
bags for Cuba. The 25 students, selected from disadvantaged communities across
the province, were given an official farewell on Friday, 5 October 2007 at a
function facilitated by the Eastern Cape Department of Health's International
Liaison Section.
Since 1998, the provincial government had sent more than 80 young people to
study medicine in Cuba, of whom about half a dozen had qualified and were now
working in the province.
The new batch will spend five years studying in Cuba, with a special
emphasis on primary healthcare, then do a sixth year at a South African
University before undertaking their two-year internship and one-year community
service.
Speaking at the farewell function, the MEC for Health Jajula emphasised that
being a doctor is a calling and one should be passionate about it, she further
mentioned that the to-be doctors should go out there and make South Africa â
particularly the Eastern Cape proud and come back to plough what they have
learnt in their disadvantaged communities.
"You should not be doctors by stethoscope but by heart" said Jajula.
When they come back from Cuba, they will be expected to work for the
province in rural areas for six years, including the community service
year.
The province is suffering from a shortage of medical professionals,
particularly in rural areas and the group had spent the four weeks undergoing
'orientation' at Mdantsane's Cecilia Makhiwane hospital.
One of the students, Xolile Nongoma, had a chance to express gratitude the
parents, councillor, chiefs and most of all to the government and the
Department of Health for the programme of recruiting students from
disadvantaged communities.
"We believe that prevention is better than cure and we also know that the
shortage of doctors in South Africa is a matter of great concern to the
Government, which is why we dedicate ourselves to go and study in Cuba,"
commented Nongoma.
The students also promised to be at their best behaviour and to come back
and make their country proud and in the process help to improve the delivery of
quality healthcare services to the people.
Acting Director for International Liaison and Partnership, Nkosinathi Mjoli,
mentioned that they have worked very hard to make sure that the right
candidates were chosen and proud to have worked with the poorest of the
poor.
"I hope that the students will make a meaningful contribution and that they
will be able to adapt to the situation," he said.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
5 October 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecdoh.gov.za)
