The government of South Africa coordinates the shipment of food and basic supplies to South African medical students in CubaSouth Africans have been complaining of “dire conditions” for months after the launch of the so-called Ordering Task, the local newspaper reported. The South African
According to the source, “Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro’s medical collaboration program has not gone according to plan, and that’s putting it mildly.”
Despite the fact that South African students are studying medicine in Cuba with a full scholarship, “their dream (…) has turned into a nightmare” because of “the doubling of food prices in the socialist country, terrible living conditions and lack of access to sanitary supplies,” he said. The South African
South African medical students in Cuba denounced that the situation on the island is dire after the economic reforms and sent a call for help to the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, about their difficult situation, reported The citizen
“Their complaints range from lack of food, dire living conditions and inadequate allowances that have left them almost destituteWhile the country’s economic reforms have caused such a severe deficit that some don’t even have access to essential items like sanitary towels, “said the source. South African students have been complaining about shortages in Cuba since 2020.
Although those affected asked the government of South Africa for an increase in allowances, the response from the ruling party, the African National Congress (ACN), was Suggest students’ parents to “fill suitcases” with food and supplies to send on a military flight to Cuba
ACN’s initiative has been criticized by the Democratic Alliance (DA) party.
MP Haseena Ismael said that “these students come largely from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds. Many come from poor families who would not have the money to fill a 23 kilo suitcase for their children, who so desperately need these crucial items. unfair and apparently an attempt by the government to divert responsibility from itself. ”
“Rather than spend more money on a program that does not adequately prepare medical students for South African realities, perhaps the government should use this money to invest in more and better medical facilities at home,” he added. According to a study published in 2020, South African universities regard Cuban-trained medical students as “incompetent.”
The South African has assessed that the treatment of South African medical students in Cuba “is a far cry from the ‘red carpet’ service given to Cuban doctors in South AfricaHundreds of Cuban doctors were welcomed with open arms last year when they arrived to help the government fight the Covid-19 pandemic. “
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is among those who nominated Cuban doctors for the Nobel Peace Prize. “I would particularly like to acknowledge the selfless and unrelenting assistance of the government and the people of Cuba. In recognition of this effort, the cabinet approved a proposal to nominate the Cuban medical brigade for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021” , he said in February.
According to local media, the South African government paid nearly $ 14.4 million for the doctors sent to Havana by the regime.