By Tabora Bojang
At least 29 newly-qualified Gambian community medical practitioners have recently graduated following the completion of over seven years of ‘extensive medical training’ program.
The 29 graduated from the Latin American school of medicine in Cuba, major international medical school.
The graduation ceremony, which was held at the a local hotel, was attended by the Cuban Ambassador to the Gambia, Lazaro Herrera and it is part of an intergovernmental agreement initiated some 10 years ago between the government of Cuba and the Gambia, for the implementation of the community based medical program which aims to train community medical practitioners in the country.
The new graduates, 23 men 6 women doctors, are now expected to be incorporated into the Gambia health sector.
The 29 underwent extensive training under pre- medical, formation and cycles, pre clinical and clinical cycles in Embryology, Histology, Anatomy, pathology, physiology and microbiology.
“These new professionals given to the Gambia are ready to perform wherever they are allocated for their knowledge, skills and values,” Dr Rebecca Cabrles, head of Academic at the Latin-American School of Medicine said.
She went on: “We hope that this knowledge is carried with honour and that in no far future they enroll in specialities close to their field and return back the effort made by the two governments by training and forming the new generations of doctors. Today comes reality of an idea created by our leader Fidel Castro with the unique ambition of preparing doctors dedicated to the health of their people,” she added.
Ambassador Herrera, on behalf of the Cuban government, Doctors, professors and lecturers congratulated the new doctors for dedicating “great efforts” by facing and overcoming many obstacles during the duration of their program.
“You have chosen one of the best but one of the most compromising professions which is protecting and saving human lives,” Ambassador Herrera told the new doctors.
“You have acquired a moral duty with your own country and you have to be conscious that people at the communities need that honour and trust and respect should be your banners as community doctors,” he advised.
The president of the Gambian Cuban Friendship Association, Modou Grant, thanked the two governments for the initiative while “sincerely paying special tribute” to the Cuban community in the Gambia for contributing to the enhancement of the country’s health sector.
The new doctors are; Mariama Suwareh, Musa Jobe, Lamin Manneh, Alieu Gaye, Lamin Nyassi, Ebrima Jallow, Suma Sanyang, Amadou Lowe, Neneh Badgie, Abdoulie Dukureh, Abdourahman Njie, Alfusainey Sey, Amadou Njie, Amie Jallow, Ebrima Baldeh, Ebrima Kanteh, Essa Ceesay, Essa Kongira, Fatou Kieta, Mamodou T Jallow, Muhammed Danjo, Mustapha Fatajo, Oumie Marong, Ousman Sanyang, Sanna Jaiteh, Touba Touray, Yai Nyangado, Ismaila Jobe and MammaLamin Baldeh.
