18 Sep 2023

Government will look into concerns raised by Batswana medical students in Cuba. 

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said this when speaking during a dinner he hosted for nine medical students studying in Havana, Cuba, on Saturday. 

He said he was happy that the students’ representatives were able to share their views and experiences as well as recommendations on how to address their challenges. 

While the students presented legitimate concerns, he could not give them answers because he was not best placed, nor was he an expert in the field, he said. 

The student's had suggested that they should do their internship in Botswana and asked for a cost-of-living adjustment. 

However, he promised that some of their concerns would be addressed favourably, because they were not of their making and the requests were reasonable. 

He praised the students for keeping abreast of developments at home, which was why they acknowledged that government had financial constraints. 

He also applauded them for their positive attitude and fortitude to become doctors and come home to serve.

 Mr Tshepo Masole, a second-year medical student at the Latin American School of Medicine who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, thanked President Masisi and his entourage for the visit and dinner. 

He said it was a privilege and an honour to be given the opportunity to study medicine in Cuba. 

He added they were all determined to complete their studies, come back home and serve. 

“We are grateful to our government, ministry of education and all the stakeholders who facilitated the mission that we are undertaking,” he said.

 A sixth-year medical students doing her internship in Cuba, Ms Hope Modimoosi also applauded government for giving them the opportunity to study medicine in that country. 

She said she had been in Cuba for the past seven years and was concluding her studies. Cubans were kind, resilient and giving despite all the challenges they faced, she said. 

However, she suggested that internship, which was part of their training, should be done in Botswana, given the health challenges of the two countries were different and they needed to gain practical experience in Botswana so that they could adapt to the environment.

Ms Modimooosi added that they were concerned by the shortage of doctors in the health sector, hence their desire to come back home upon completion of their studies. 

While acknowledging financial challenges faced by the government, she said the economic embargo on Cuba had caused numerous challenges for them and necessitated an increase of their allowances to be at par with the cost of in that country. ENDS