By OBAKENG MAJE
North West Department of Health bid farewell to 20 students, who are heading to Cuba to study medicine through the Nelson Mandela/Fidel Castro Medical program. The Nelson Mandela/Fidel Castro Medical program is aimed at training disadvantaged African black medical students in Cuba in order to meet the needs of rural and urban populations across the country.
One of the students, Omogolo Moopelwa (19) from Choseng village near Taung said, she feels privileged to be part of this program. Moopelwa said there were many individuals who applied for the program, but unfortunately, they did not make it.
“I do not feel lucky but blessed because it has always been my dream to become a medical doctor. This should be a motivation by itself that, now my dream is manifesting into reality. I was raised by a single mother because my father passed away when I was only 4.
“I finished my matric at Choseng Secondary School and aims to bring the necessary changes into my community after finishing my course. So, I have realised that there is a shortage of medical doctors, especially in rural areas and that might be one of the contributing factors to poor services in various healthcare facilities,” she said.
Another student, Omphemetse Gabogope (23), who is also from Choseng village, near Taung shared the same sentiments. Gabogope said, indeed this is a golden opportunity for him and he will work hard to achieve his mark.
“Indeed, God is great because only a few people get this kind of opportunity in their lifetime. So, I cannot blow it away because in most cases, there are challenges marring healthcare centres, especially in rural areas. I will study hard and ensure that I do my work diligently as a medical doctor,” he said.
Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha, who was the keynote speaker during the valediction event said, these beneficiaries have been selected from across all four districts and will be placed under internship upon graduation.
He further said, they will also embark on community service programs at various health facilities as part of servicing their bursary obligation. The North West Department of Health has participated in the program since its inception in 1998 and to date, 407 graduates have been produced under this initiative.
“Students should know the reason for their going to Cuba. They are going there to study not for leisure purposes. People cannot complain about the living conditions in Cuba, but just take a look across the province and tell me what you see.
“You may have difficult conditions in Cuba, but what is not said is the reasons. It is because of the long-known location by US government because they do not have supplied content. So, living conditions in Cuba are imposed by their difference with the US government on ideological questions of their state,” Sambatha said.
He said five years from now, these students will be expected to be in South Africa. Sambatha said it should not be difficult to keep focus for five years.
“The aim of this program is to ensure that the families of these individuals are released from the bondage of poverty. The living conditions in Cuba are like any other living conditions in any South African university.
“Cuba is a socialist country and these students are not there for leisure. What is needed is commitment and the only way to liberate ourselves from poverty is through education. We have a high rate of unemployment in South Africa and this is a great opportunity for them,” he said.
He added that, the skills that these students will acquire from Cuba are the same as those from the local universities, but the medical training in Cuba is more community orientated. Sambatha who failed to provide figures on how much they have budgeted for the program said, this is a bilateral agreement, which means it includes a national and provincial budget.
“North West is one of the provinces with a lesser number of doctors available and this program will assist us. In the coming five years, we may have our own medical university. We are working with the North West University (NWU),” he said.
The Guardian 