To increase pool of medical practitioners in the North West province, the Department of Health has, this year, awarded medical bursaries to 126 young people to study medicine in Cuba. The South Africa-Cuba Medical Programme was introduced in 1998 to address shortage of medical professionals in the country.
Candidates were selected on the basis of academic excellence and commitment to serve the poorest communities upon completion of their studies. Other criteria included a history of active involvement in their communities, and the potential to be a dedicated and caring doctor. Priority was given to students from disadvantaged communities.
Speaking during the farewell function of the medical bursary recipients held on Saturday, 13 September 2014 in Mmabatho, Dr Tshepo Lekone, who is a Cuban trained medical doctor, urged the new recruits to represent the country and the province well in Cuba. “You will be representing not only the North West province but the country as a whole. I want you to see these as a privilege, and you must treat it as such.
“Hard work pays. I am a qualified medical doctor today because of that, and I am proud today because of the opportunity I was given by this government. Today I am serving people of my province and I am expecting the same from you after completion of your studies to come back and serve the people of this beautiful province with pride,” concluded Dr Lekone.
In his farewell message, MEC Dr Magome Masike urged aspirant doctors to get as much medical knowledge as they could and come back to serve the people of the North West.
“I am urging you today, in front of your parents and your beloved ones, that when you get to Cuba, do not forget where you come from. Conduct yourselves in a way that shows commitment to the programme.
“Once you have decided to enroll in this programme, it means you must be willing to sacrifice some of the things you are used to. I am confident that you are not going to disappoint us,” said MEC Masike.
MEC Masike went on to say that the South Africa-Cuba Medical Programme is in line with government’s rural development programme, which seeks to improve the general state of service delivery in rural areas. He said his department is contributing to this mandate by improving health services in rural areas. “As government, we are hoping that the South Africa-Cuba Medical Programme will eventually assist us to improve on our patient-doctor ratio. We need to see more doctors and specialist visiting our clinics and community health centers where our people live,” Masike said.
The North West province increased Cuban medical bursary recipients from 10 in 2008 to 126 in 2014 and currently the Province has 68 medical doctors from poor backgrounds who successfully completed their medical studies in Cuba, and are now serving in various facilities across the province.
Mmoloki Matlapeng (19), one of the medical bursary recipients from Bojanala, thanked the Department of Health for granting him and others the opportunity of a lifetime to study medicine in Cuba. Speaking on behalf of bursary recipients, Matlapeng said when he was applying for bursary he was not only thinking about him being called a doctor upon completion of his studies, or the money, but he was thinking more of how he is going to contribute and help the community that raised him. “We are definitely not the first group to go to Cuba and we are not the last to go. We want to assure our parents and communities of the North West that we will do our best and will make you proud,” said Matlapeng.
The bursary recipients, who are departing to Cuba this month, had undergone a week long orientation at local health facilities to familiarize themselves with medical practice and to get perspective of Cuba from those who studied medicine in Cuba. The bursaries awarded to the students will cover the costs of books, accommodation and tuition.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane, Provincial Health spokesperson
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
