The North-West University (NWU) may not have a *medical school yet, but is certainly doing its part to help bridge the shortage of medical practitioners in the country.

According to the Health Professions Council of South Africa, the country has more than 37 300 registered doctors, and approximately 12 300 of them are qualified as specialists.

The doctor-to-population ratio is estimated at 0,77 per 1 000, but since the vast majority of GPs – 73% – work in the private sector, there is just one practising doctor for every 4 219 people in the public sector.

Making a dent in this ratio, seven NWU alumni returned to South Africa on 15 July 2019 after training as medical practitioners at the University of Havana in Cuba.

Five of the seven – Boitumelo Mochwaiwa, Masego Moloantoa, Boitumelo Marumo, Leepile Taunyane and Tshegofatso Itumeleng – completed their BScHons degrees. Orefile Rakobane and Kgaudi Lebitsa graduated with BSc degrees.

Part of the group who left for Cuba in December 2013, they will be spending the next 18 months at South African universities. This is part of their re-orientation to English medical terminology and will help them to familiarise themselves with the unique local patient profiles to complete their domestic final exam which precedes their Cuban finals.

Why they went to Cuba

Boitumelo, who holds a BScHons in microbiology from the NWU, says she always wanted to be a medical doctor.

“It’s a very daunting process to get into a medical school in South Africa, even if the country does not have the capacity to produce enough doctors for its population.”

Affectionately known as Tumi by her fellow students at the NWU, she was an active member of the Lokaleng Project, a community engagement volunteer group. Boitumelo’s participation in this project earned her an opportunity to be part of a global walk at Hanseo University in South Korea.

She says they experienced no difficulties with their premedical studies as the NWU provided them with a solid foundation.

Studying in Spanish

“When I first arrived in Cuba the only challenge I faced was the language and cultural, geographic and social barriers,” she says.

“None of the people we met on our first day could speak English, everyone just spoke Spanish. This was terrifying, since we knew that this was the language that would be used in our studies.

“However, we tried our best to familiarise ourselves with the basics; and a few years later, here we are.”

Boitumelo says this has been a milestone in her life and a worthwhile journey. “I am honoured to have been given this opportunity, and am now ready to take the last steps to realise my dream of being a doctor.”

Collaboration between South Africa and Cuba

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Cuba resulted in the establishment of a medical collaboration programme - the President Nelson Mandela – Fidel Castro Collaboration – which promotes primary healthcare.

Cuba places great emphasis on community based primary care, prevention and citizens’ active participation – the same goals as South Africa’s universal health coverage plan. Cuba also has one of the world’s best systems in this field.

*The NWU is exploring the possibility of establishing a medical school to assist in broadening access to health care in the North West province, and has already received valuable support from the North West provincial government and other important role-players to make the dream a reality.

Boitumelo Mochwaiwa is one of seven NWU alumni who recently returned from studying medicine in Cuba.