TO: ALL MEDIA
DATE: 12 JANUARY 2012
EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Alert: MEC Dhlomo to meet parents about the new Cuba Programme

The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo will be meeting parents of students who want to study medicine but have not found spaces in South African Universities.

Last week the MEC announced that the Provincial government has reached an agreement with the Cuban Government to extend the number of student intakes for South African medical students. Currently the department supports students from very poor backgrounds with full bursaries to study medicine in Cuba through the South Africa- Cuba Joint Academic Programme which has been in existence for the past 15 years.

To date more than 150 students from KwaZulu-Natal have graduated through this programme and currently there are 70 students in Cuban Universities.

The MEC will meet parents from Ugu (Port Shepstone areas) and Sisonke (uMzimkhulu areas) tomorrow (Friday, 13 January 2012) at the Kokstad Town Hall at 14h00. The MEC is meeting parents from Uthukela, Amajuba and Vryheid area at Ladysmith Town Hall today at 16h00.

Through this programme the MEC is targeting students whose parents can pay for the tuition fees and the Department will provide support in areas such as flights, stationery and living allowance.

“The media reports on the long queues in Universities while we are in desperate need of healthcare workers, especially doctors, are a concern to us. So, I am meeting parents to engage them on the extended arrangement with our Cuban friends. It is our hope that parents will support the programme and a sizable group will start their training in February 2012,”explains the MEC.
ENDS

ISSUED BY:
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: KWAZULU-NATAL
CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
CHRIS MAXON
083 447 2869

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