From page 7 of the September Amistad Issue
ROAD TO SUCCESS: Many of the early graduates of the SA–Cuba medical training programme now hold senior leadership positions in SA’s health sector.
Mzulungile Nodikida, Sanele Madela, Bongile Mabilane, Nhlakanipho Gumede and Godisamang Kegakilwe have one thing in common: they studied medicine in Cuba. Since its establishment in 1996, the Cuba–SA programme has been knocked for being impractical, too expensive, and for producing inferior doctors. But today, these five doctors all occupy senior leadership positions in the health sector. A survey of Cuba- and South Africa-trained graduates published in 2019 found that those from the Cuba programme reported “stronger
motivation for initiative in their career, to work in rural areas, and to become a community leader”.
Find out what these physicians do, how they got there, and what the future holds. In today’s newsletter, editor-in-chief Mia Malan explains why Sean Christie followed five Cuba-trained doctors.