|
Timor-Leste medical students in Cuba 'the best and most disciplined',
15 November 2006
Timor-Leste's 498 students in Cuba are considered to be the best
among thousands of overseas people studying medicine there - in
terms of results and discipline, according to Vice-Minister of
Health Luis Lobato.
"Our young people are a credit to all of Timor-Leste as
they work hard and show great discipline," Mr Lobato said.
"I am told by Cuban authorities that they are the best.
"The kindness, sincerity and generosity of the Cuban people
and Government is overwhelming. Despite all it is currently doing
for Timor-Leste, Cuba is taking another 200 of our students in
the coming months."
Twenty one other countries have people studying medicine in Cuba,
which is a poor and developing nation but with one of the best
health systems in the world - in some cases far better than in
the United States, where public hospitals in some instances are
no better than hospitals in developing countries.
Cuba also has 302 doctors working throughout Timor-Leste. More
than 120 of these doctors are specialists working in hospitals
in Dili, Maliana, Baucau, Suai, Oecussi and Maubissi. Although
the Timor-Leste Government initially contributed a modest amount
to the costs associated with the program, the Cuban Government
now pays the wages of all its doctors and charges our medical
students nothing for studies.
Prime Minister Dr José Ramos-Horta today praised the commitment
and courage of the Cuban doctors helping Timor-Leste.
"During the worst of the crisis in May, June and July our
Cuban doctors stayed unconditionally in the villages and hospitals
with the patients and the people, providing the much-needed moral,
medical and psychological support," Dr Ramos-Horta said.
"This is in contrast with American Peace Corp volunteers,
who, even though there was not the slightest threat to their safety
and well-being in rural areas, were given orders by the US administration
to leave our country.
"The Cuban courage and commitment is also in contrast with
the Japanese. JICA, the Japanese International Co-operation Agency,
abruptly interrupted its co-operation in Timor-Leste, even though
there was never any threat to Japanese nationals, particularly
in the rural areas."
The original scholarship program between Cuba and Timor-Leste
was discussed on the sidelines at a summit meeting of the Non-Aligned
Movement in Kuala Lumpur in 2003 when President Xanana Gusmão
met Cuban President Fidel Castro and 50 medical scholarships were
offered at that time. Dr Ramos-Horta was there in his capacity
as Foreign Minister.
Subsequently, the Cuban Government raised the number of scholarships
to a maximum of 1000.
"Thanks to the generosity of another relatively poor nation,
when we have at least 500 of our students complete the course
and return - together with the ones studying in Timor-Leste and
other countries - we will have a ratio of doctors-to-population
as high as that of any developed country," Dr Ramos-Horta
said.
"Timor-Leste has been blessed by having many nations as
real friends, but I must ask: what greater gift can we receive
than a guaranteed health system for our people? This is the gift
from the people of Cuba."
The Prime Minister stressed that Timor-Leste did not interfere
in the internal affairs of other countries and their choice of
political system.
"The US and Cuba might not have diplomatic relations and
have been in a state of "no war, no peace" for the past
40 years or so," Dr Ramos-Horta said, "but Timor-Leste
has good solid relations with both.
"The Cubans treat our young people wonderfully. They are
allowed to practise their religion without interference and I
have asked our church whether they could send a chaplain to Cuba
to minister to our students' spiritual needs.
"I have also asked Bishop Carlos Belo to visit our students
and he will do this soon."
Last Monday the Prime Minister and Vice-Minister for Health addressed
a gathering of several hundred parents and other relatives of
the students in Dili. Dr Ramos-Horta told the gathering that all
of Timor-Leste was very proud of the commitment the students were
making to the nation.
Timor-Leste has other medical students in Indonesia, Portugal,
the Philippines, Fiji, Malaysia and Australia.
"When our doctors return in 2012 I hope we will have one
doctor for every village," Dr Ramos-Horta said.
|
