Thirty of a batch of 78 Cuban scholarship recipients, who recently returned to Guyana, are medical graduates who will soon commence internships at local hospitals following which they will be able to practise medicine in Guyana.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the 30 medical graduates have completed six years of studying medicine, which the remaining 48 completed studies in the electrical, mechanical, civil and computer engineering, agronomy, forestry, veterinary medicine and dentistry fields. The Cuban scholarships are the result of an agreement between that country and Guyana’s Head of State and Guyanese have been afforded the opportunity to further their studies in Cuba since 2002, GINA said. In February 2006 a further agreement was signed between Guyana and Cuba which included the provision of 965 scholarships of which 715 were for Guyanese to pursue medicine.
Meanwhile, some of the other benefits which derived from the 2006 agreement included a state-of-the-art ophthalmology centre, diagnostic centres, more doctors, specialists in the sugar industry and instructors for the local programmes. President Bharrat Jagdeo had said, following the signing, that it would have a major impact on the health care delivery in Guyana.
The response to the scholarship programme, according to GINA, has been overwhelming. Amerindian students were also awarded scholarships in an effort to develop the hinterland communities. Scholarship awardees are given a monthly stipend of Cdn$100, while the Cuban government provides free tuition, meals and accommodation.
