Health system gone to the Monkeys
Sixty eight medical doctors complete training in Cuba
12:34 pm, Fri July 19, 2013
Health facilities island-wide will soon benefit from the expertise of 68 new Jamaican doctors who just completed a seven-year medical degree programme in Cuba.
Of that number, 38 students from this batch – said to be the largest under the long running Jamaica/Cuba Bilateral Scholarship Programme, graduated with honours on July 16.
The doctors admitted that in the beginning they experienced difficulties adjusting to the Cuban lifestyle, but over the years they adjusted well and leaving Cuba is now bitter sweet.
“If you should come here and studying medicine it is more practical , in Cuba we started touching patients from third year. It was an interesting experience. I formed a bond with a lot of Cubans here,” said Dr. Camalee Armstrong who is from the northern parish of St. Ann .
Her fellow graduate, Dr. Jodi-Ann McKenzie, 25 said she was glad to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.
“This programme specifically has allowed a lot of people who probably wouldn’t be able to study it other places. I am really excited to be in the Jamaica system…. .learning medicine all over again in English is something I’m looking forward to.”
The graduates are bonded in Jamaica for five years. The remaining graduates are expected to return to Jamaica next month.
Four Jamaican students will be leaving for Cuba in September to pursue medical degrees under the Scholarship Programme.
Meanwhile, Dr. Linton Francis, a General Practitioner who was among the third batch of medical students to graduate under the Cuba/Jamaica bilateral scholarship programme in 1985, had high praises for the opportunity it gave medical students.
He wants government to ensure the viability of the programme for years to come.
“When you come to Cuba and you experience life here, the little that they have materially and what they have donated to the Jamaican Government in terms of training their professionals, then you really understand the sacrifice that they have offered to the Jamaican Government and to the Jamaican people. When you are trained here , if you practice what they teach you then you will always remain humble and your first obligation is to the patient and not necessarily to enrich yourself,” he said.
Sixty eight medical doctors complete training in Cuba
12:34 pm, Fri July 19, 2013
Health facilities island-wide will soon benefit from the expertise of 68 new Jamaican doctors who just completed a seven-year medical degree programme in Cuba.
Of that number, 38 students from this batch – said to be the largest under the long running Jamaica/Cuba Bilateral Scholarship Programme, graduated with honours on July 16.
The doctors admitted that in the beginning they experienced difficulties adjusting to the Cuban lifestyle, but over the years they adjusted well and leaving Cuba is now bitter sweet.
“If you should come here and studying medicine it is more practical , in Cuba we started touching patients from third year. It was an interesting experience. I formed a bond with a lot of Cubans here,” said Dr. Camalee Armstrong who is from the northern parish of St. Ann .
Her fellow graduate, Dr. Jodi-Ann McKenzie, 25 said she was glad to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor.
“This programme specifically has allowed a lot of people who probably wouldn’t be able to study it other places. I am really excited to be in the Jamaica system…. .learning medicine all over again in English is something I’m looking forward to.”
The graduates are bonded in Jamaica for five years. The remaining graduates are expected to return to Jamaica next month.
Four Jamaican students will be leaving for Cuba in September to pursue medical degrees under the Scholarship Programme.
Meanwhile, Dr. Linton Francis, a General Practitioner who was among the third batch of medical students to graduate under the Cuba/Jamaica bilateral scholarship programme in 1985, had high praises for the opportunity it gave medical students.
He wants government to ensure the viability of the programme for years to come.
“When you come to Cuba and you experience life here, the little that they have materially and what they have donated to the Jamaican Government in terms of training their professionals, then you really understand the sacrifice that they have offered to the Jamaican Government and to the Jamaican people. When you are trained here , if you practice what they teach you then you will always remain humble and your first obligation is to the patient and not necessarily to enrich yourself,” he said.
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