Date: 06/07/2007
Source: Department of Health
Title: SA: Tshabalala-Msimang: Graduation ceremony for medical doctors trained in Cuba

Address by the Minister of Health of South Africa, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, at the graduation ceremony of the South African medical doctors trained in Cuba, University of Pretoria

Your Excellency Deputy Minister of Public Health of Cuba
Dr Roberto Gonzalez Martin
HE Esther Armenteros, Cuban Ambassador to South Africa
And the rest of the Cuban delegation
MECs and Heads of provincial departments of health
Deans of Medical Schools
Graduates
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

This is a great day indeed for our countries. South Africa and Cuba are celebrating the third national Graduation Ceremony for South African medical doctors trained in Cuba. We are privileged today to have the presence of the diplomatic delegation from Cuba led by the Deputy Minister of Public Health. Your Excellency, today marks another milestone in the historic relationship between our countries.

It is over a decade since our countries first signed a bilateral agreement to co-operate on health matters. South Africa, through this agreement has developed a national strategy to expand opportunities to young South Africans to join the ranks of medical graduates serving the poor and rural communities in our country. The Bilateral Agreement has provided an opportunity for South African students to be exposed to the medical training capacity available in Cuba.

Sending young people to Cuba was not only done so that they would acquire technical medical education. It was also done to provide for the transformation of health services in terms of values, attitudes and practices. Many of these students would not have been doctors today because of the challenges of recruitment requirements and costs that many students from poor communities had to grapple with. Government took a decision to open this opportunity because we realised that there were many young people with great potential to serve the health sector. We are glad that today we are reaping the fruits of this investment.

Through the programme, provinces have also been able to train pools of medical professionals who will serve their needs and who are vocationally committed to providing public services in rural areas in our country. The socio-economic profile of the students accepted on the programme enables them to contribute to rural social and economic development in our country on their return.

Of the four hundred and seventy students (470), one hundred and seventy-one (171) are back in the country and ninety one (91) including the 41 who are graduating today, have qualified as medical doctors. Since 2001, the programme has been refined to enable exposure of students to the South African health context and disease profile in their final year in this country.

Students have been able to get used to the South African healthcare system, disease profile and to participate in the local clinical and practical examinations so as to facilitate the medical students� registration for Internship with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. I must say that I am greatly encouraged by the support received from the medical universities to ensure that this process is successful, despite the challenges of integration.
This integration would not have been possible without the support of the heads of medical faculties in our country. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the deans and their colleagues at medical faculties countrywide for contributing to developing a cadre of medical professionals for our country.

To our newly qualified doctors, I believe that you will carry out your responsibilities with honour, dignity, dedication and humility and serve your country well. Parents and families, the many years of support and nurturing of your children have yielded fruit for you and for our nation. The work is not yet over for parents and families as you will still need to guide these young people and show them what true service to the community is. Knowledge without values is not worth having.

You should use the knowledge and skills that you are armed with as doctors to respond positively to the challenges ahead of you to render comprehensive health service within rural areas. Your record of academic performance in both Cuba and South Africa is an example of your commitment to and appreciation of the opportunity that was created for you to study medicine and to improve health care service delivery and access to quality health care for the entire South African population.

Programme Director, our countries have placed more emphasis on the primary healthcare approach as a necessary vehicle to improve health care delivery. In this regard, South Africa will join in the global celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Alma Ata Declaration and the adoption by the World Health Organisation of the primary healthcare approach next year.

This approach focuses on the following key principles:

* equity in access to services and allocation of resources
* community participation and involvement
* intersectoral action
* and decentralised management so that services can be tailored to the needs of communities.

I urge our newly qualified doctors to adopt the Alma Ata principles and work in the facilities you are deployed at to ensure that communities participate in improving their health. In commemorating this event, the Department of Health will host a conference aimed at reviewing progress in implementing the PHC approach as well as to chart the way forward.

Your Excellency Deputy Minister Dr Gonzalez Martin, the South African Ministry of Health is appreciative of the remarkable support that your country has continued to give to our endeavour to produce more doctors to staff our rural health facilities. We are also grateful for the efforts you have made to travel all the way from Cuba to be part of this ceremony.

To the MECs and heads of provincial departments of health, I commend your support to the programme by allowing these young doctors to utilise the invaluable opportunity offered by the Cuban government. I believe these doctors will contribute to the provincial efforts to redress the challenges of scarcity and mal-distribution in health human resources, particularly in the medical field. Their achievement is as a result of your investment and support and effort.

Thank you to all of you who have graced this occasion by your presence and congratulations to our new doctors.

Thank you for listening to me.

Conferment of Medical Degree to South African Medical Graduates trained in Cuba
Bachelor of Medicine

Dlamini, Philisile Pamela
Dlamini, Thandukwazi Theunis Gauteng
Dlomo, Phumelele P
Fungheni, Euginia Rhulani
Hlapa, Malatjie Charles
Hlatswayo, Mlungisi Daniel
Jacobs, Lee Jean Elizabeth, North West
Kgalaeng, Morontshe Maureen
Khanyile, Bhekumuzi Nhanhla
Koiee, Khantse Confidence, Free State
Kubheka, Mphikeleli Naphtally
Mabunda, Robert Godwin
Maleni, Moses Goodman
Masuku, Nhlanhla Jonathan
Matlala, Nkoane Stanley
Matlou, Tebogo Suzan, Limpopo
Mganu, Joseph Lucky KwaZulu-Natal (KZN)
Mhlongo, Nikiwe Snenhlanhla
Mjadu, Londiwe Precious
Mkhwanasi, Nkosinathi
Moobi, Ernest Semakaleng
Myeni, Bonakele Prudence KZN
Mvelase, Mandla Cyprian
Nenzhelele, Nisakisi Lauren
Ngale, Tshepo Cletus
Ngoepe, Mmatlou Kate
Nhleko, Phiwayinkosi Pendant
Nke, Hermina Mmabatho
Nkoliswa, Maggy Nombulelo
Nkomo, Nolitha Naledi
Ntombela, Sibusiso Mbongiseni

Conferment of Medical Degree to South African Medical Graduates trained in Cuba
Bachelor of Medicine

Nxumalo, Nhlanhla Leonard
Pholoana, Katlego Derick
Pooe, Lesego Nkateko
Potgieter, Hannlie, Gauteng
Powane, Shadrack Herman
Ramanenzhe, Thiemuli
Shasha, Xhaka Kholekile, Gauteng
Shibambo, Giyani Patrick
Thagane, Konkonyane William
Zungu, Bonginkosi PraiseGod

Issued by: Department of Health
6 July 2007