13 Sep 2016

Residents of Mmathethe have attributed burgeoning relationship between them and Cuban community health specialists to good bilateral relationship that exists between Botswana and Cuba.

Residents relayed this during a health and wellness day where numerous Cuban medical doctors for the second time this year volunteered their services to screen residents on an array of ailments in on Saturday (September 10).

Residents said particularly intriguing was the poise and humility with which the Cuban doctors carried themselves.

 “This gesture can only mean Botswana has a very warm relationship with Cuba,” said one of the residents, Mr Boipuso Moseki who also came for medical attention.

Another resident, Ms Kelebogile Dikole, 57, concurred with Mr Moseki saying the gesture had saved them the trouble of having to go to far flung places for medical attention.

She was happy that patients did not have to part with their money to undergo screening.

Ms Dikole, who did not come for medical attention during the May session, showered the Cuban community of doctors for their humility and called on fellow residents to take advantage of such opportunities which she said had potential to give the ailing a new lease of life.

“My religion abhors this but I also have a life to life hence I took a deliberate decision to come and claim back my health,” she said.

 Ms Tebogo Baipidi, 36, also among the many who thronged the health and wellness day was optimistic the continued relationship between the Cuban doctors and residents of Mmathethe would turn around the health of the community for the better.

Like many expectant patients, Ms Baipidi was hopeful her eye condition would be dealt with once and for all.

The head of the delegation, Dr Mairelys Gonzalez, who is a Family Physician at Bokamoso Private Hospital said their gesture was a way of giving back to the community.

“We are aware of the challenges people face to get medical attention especially that there are not enough doctors, a situation which forces people to travel to Marina hospital and put up with long queues there,” she said. ENDS