KZN medical students leave for Cuba
A group of 23 medical students from KZN leave for Cuba today where they will receive their training for the next five years.
The province's Health Department says its aim is for students to be stationed in rural areas across the province once they return home from Cuba.
The department's HOD Sifiso Mtshali says they have noted a trend where doctors transfer from rural areas to cities in order to advance their careers.
He says this often leaves a vacuum in rural areas when it comes to medical services.
''They are from rural areas and so we have a contract with them which states that when they have completed their studies, they will come back and serve in their communities.
''We think that's a good model because they will be returning to their own communities where they cannot do things that are unacceptable there because they are from there. Also, they understand the culture practices better so they will better serve those respective communities,'' he said.
(File photo)