Cuba-trained medical students to be placed at hospitals across KZN
The University of KwaZulu-Natal has welcomed 126 medical students, who have returned from Cuba where they've been studying.
They studied abroad under the Nelson Mandela - Fidel Castro collaboration programme - which started more than 20 years ago.
Head of Health Sciences, Professor Busi Ncama says the students will receive training in a number of hospitals across the province.
"They will be rotating in various departments mainly Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Mental Health, Family Medicine and a whole range of others.
The @UKZN today welcomed home 126 Cuban trained Medical Students that have been studying medicine in Cuba for the past 5 years. They will enroll for their final 18 months in the institution to receive training in a number of heath facilities in KZN. @ECR_Newswatch pic.twitter.com/XFP3QRs6Ap
— uMjita kaGod 🛐 (@Bangibiza_uJeff) July 22, 2019
Ncama says the students will be placed in a six-week rotation period.
"They will get in-depth clinical training in those areas. They will write exams and hopefully in 18-months they will be qualified," she said.
The Dean of Clinical Medicine, Professor Ncoza Dlova says Cuban-trained students will help the country’s health sector.
"In Cuba, our colleagues are trained to focus more on preventative or primary healthcare and yet in South Africa, our approach to the training of medical students is mainly curative. What an amazing platform to merge those two systems," Dlova said.
