On the night of July 7, the first group of medical students arrived in South Africa after finished their fifth year of studies in Cuba.
This group, which will be joined in the rest of the week by other students from Cuba,up to more than 700, will continue its sixth and last year of the career in South African health and university institutions.
It is the first time, since the Bilateral Program of Cooperation in Health was initiated, from the will of our historical leaders, Fidel Castro and Nelson Mandela, that a large number of medical students trained in Cub arrived in South Africa.
In the emotional welcome ceremony, the South African Minister of Health expressed the government's intention that this new generation of doctors graduated in Cuba be the driving force behind the reform of the Health System required by the country, to guarantee medical coverage to all the citizens.
On the other hand, the Ambassador of Cuba, Rodolfo Benítez, when welcoming the students to their Homeland, exhorted them to continue with humility and spirit of sacrifice his vocation to serve the neediest population, as the best way to honor Nelson Mandela in the year of its centenary.
He also reiterated Cuba's commitment to continue contributing to the training of South African professionals.
In the event, which also had the presence of the Secretary General of the ANC, Ace Magashule and other national and provincial leaders, the expressions of gratitude to the Cuban people and government were reiterated for the valuable assistance provided to South Africa in the preparation of new doctors that the country needs so much.