The Eastern Cape department of health yesterday received a much-needed boost to its primary health care services when it welcomed eight Cuban doctors to the province.
The doctors, who will be allocated to different hospitals around the province, were recruited to provide health services to rural and other disadvantaged communities.
The total number of doctors the department acquired as part of the exchange programme with Cuba, is 10. However, only eight arrived yesterday.
At the time of writing, it was not clear why the other two did not arrive with the rest of the group.
The doctors will be sent to St Elizabeth Hospital in Lusikisiki, Mthatha Regional Hospital, Nelson Mandela Central Hospital (formerly Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital) and Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth.
St Elizabeth will be the biggest beneficiary of the programme, as four of the doctors will be sent there.
Speaking at the event to officially welcome the eight doctors, department of health MEC Dr Pumza Dyantyi said the department did not have enough doctors. The initiative was part of plans by government to provide the “much-needed” experience.
“Although we do not have enough doctors, we are not about to have a crisis. However, we do need more hands to assist. Cuban doctors are very efficient in improving the healthcare system,” Dyantyi said.
The 10 specialist doctors will have a three-year contract with the department. Dyantyi said the department will decide at the end of their contracts whether to extend them.
“We are in the process of upgrading our facilities and infrastructure,” she added.
Being a beneficiary of the South Africa-Cuba government collaboration herself, Dyantyi spent her young years as a medical student in Cuba.
In June last year, the Daily Dispatch reported that the department received three Cuban doctors, who were part of a group of 24 who arrived in the province in 2014 to help strengthen the Eastern Cape’s primary healthcare strategy ahead of the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) policy.
Speaking at the welcoming event, Nelson Mandela Central Hospital clinical manager Dr Mzulungile Nodikida, who is one of the local doctors who trained in Cuba, spoke fondly of his experience in Cuba.
“I wouldn’t trade the experience I got there for the world. Your presence in our country is a continuation of the battle for good health.
“I know your interests lie in serving the poorest of the poor. Please go out there and provide your services,” Nodikida said. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
Big welcome for doctors from Cuba to improve health system
The doctors, who will be allocated to different hospitals around the province, were recruited to provide health services to rural and other disadvantaged communities.
The total number of doctors the department acquired as part of the exchange programme with Cuba, is 10. However, only eight arrived yesterday.
At the time of writing, it was not clear why the other two did not arrive with the rest of the group.
The doctors will be sent to St Elizabeth Hospital in Lusikisiki, Mthatha Regional Hospital, Nelson Mandela Central Hospital (formerly Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital) and Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth.
St Elizabeth will be the biggest beneficiary of the programme, as four of the doctors will be sent there.
Speaking at the event to officially welcome the eight doctors, department of health MEC Dr Pumza Dyantyi said the department did not have enough doctors. The initiative was part of plans by government to provide the “much-needed” experience.
“Although we do not have enough doctors, we are not about to have a crisis. However, we do need more hands to assist. Cuban doctors are very efficient in improving the healthcare system,” Dyantyi said.
The 10 specialist doctors will have a three-year contract with the department. Dyantyi said the department will decide at the end of their contracts whether to extend them.
“We are in the process of upgrading our facilities and infrastructure,” she added.
Being a beneficiary of the South Africa-Cuba government collaboration herself, Dyantyi spent her young years as a medical student in Cuba.
In June last year, the Daily Dispatch reported that the department received three Cuban doctors, who were part of a group of 24 who arrived in the province in 2014 to help strengthen the Eastern Cape’s primary healthcare strategy ahead of the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) policy.
Speaking at the welcoming event, Nelson Mandela Central Hospital clinical manager Dr Mzulungile Nodikida, who is one of the local doctors who trained in Cuba, spoke fondly of his experience in Cuba.
“I wouldn’t trade the experience I got there for the world. Your presence in our country is a continuation of the battle for good health.
“I know your interests lie in serving the poorest of the poor. Please go out there and provide your services,” Nodikida said. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
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