South African government coordinates transport of food and basic necessities to South African medical students in Cuba. South Africans have been complaining for months about “terrible conditions” after the start of the so-called command task, the local newspaper reported. South African.
According to the source, “The Nelson Mandela-Fidel Castro medical collaboration program did not work according to plan, which means it is easy.”
Despite South African students studying medicine in Cuba on a full-time scholarship, “their dream (…) turned into a nightmare” due to “doubling food prices in the socialist country, terrible living conditions and lack of access to sanitary ware,” he said. South African.
South African medical students in Cuba have denounced the dire situation on the island after economic reforms and called on health minister Zweli Mkhize to help with their plight. citizen.
“Their complaints range from lack of food, terrible living conditions and inadequate allowances that left them almost poorWhile the country’s economic reforms have caused such a severe shortage that some do not even have access to essentials, such as sanitary napkins, “the source said. South African students complain about Cuba’s 2020 shortages.
Although those affected have called on the South African government to increase benefits, the ruling party’s response, the African National Congress (ACN), has been ask parents of students to “fill their suitcases” with food and items to send them to Cuba on a military flight.
The ACN initiative has been criticized by the Democratic Alliance (DA) party.
MP Haseena Ismael said that “these students come mostly from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds. Many come from poor families who would not have the funds to fill a 23 kilogram suitcase for their children, who are in great need of these children. Therefore, this request is unfair and apparently an attempt by the Government to deviate from its own responsibility. ”
“Instead of spending more money on a program that doesn’t adequately prepare medical students for the realities of South Africa, maybe the government should use that money to invest in more and better home medical institutions.” he added. According to a study published in 2020, universities in South Africa consider Cuban medical students “incompetent”.
South African reviewed this the treatment of South African medical students in Cuba “is far from the” red carpet “service provided to Cuban doctors in South Africa. Hundreds of Cuban doctors were welcomed with open arms last year when they came to help the government fight the Covid-19 pandemic. “
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is one of the nominees for Cuban doctors for the Nobel Peace Prize. “I would especially like to acknowledge the altruistic and unwavering support of the Cuban government and people. 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 doctors sent by the Havana regime.