Working towards addressing the shortage of doctors in the province, the North West Department of Health and Social Development will next week send 26 young prospective doctors to study medicine in Cuba.
This after 14 others returned from Cuba following intensive training and is currently doing community services in rural communities where delivery of quality healthcare is needed.
The province continues to see steady progress in addressing related challenges of scares skills and training of health professionals. “Through the South African and Cuban Medical Programme more and more medical professionals become available and this slowly but surely reduces doctor patient contact in hospitals mainly serving rural communities,” says MEC Rebecca Kasienyane.
The programme to study medicine targets students from disadvantaged communities without financial means, but exceptional matric results.
Nine prospective doctors come from a largely rural district, Dr Segomotsi Mompati; seven were identified from Bojanala Platinum district; while Ngaka Modiri Molema and Dr Kenneth Kaunada districts has five each going to Cuba.
Prospective doctors have undergone a week long orientation at health facilities in Bojanala last week to familiarise themselves with medical practice and to get perspective of Cuba from those who have already studied medicine in Cuba.
MEC Kasienyane will address the new recruits during a farewell ceremony to be held as follows:
Date: 18 September 2009
Venue: Mmabatho Palms
Time: 09h00
The media is invited.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Health and Social Development, North West Provincial Government
14 September 2009
