20 future doctors head to Cuba on scholarship

It’s six long years of complicated studies that even under the best conditions can only be described as difficult. But going to medical school in Cuba is still the best deal in town for dozens of aspiring Belizean doctors. This week twenty more are about to begin their professional journey. News Five’s Kendra Griffith reports.

Kendra Griffith, Reporting
This group of young men and women represent the future of Belize’s health care system.

Cristina Valdez, Scholarship Recipient
“I want to be a gynaecologist.”

Wilhelm Casey, Scholarship Recipient, Belmopan
“I plan to study cardiology because I notice a lot of people die from heart disease, which my dad died from heart disease, so from since I was small I wanted to be a cardiologist”

Twenty year old Cristina Valdez and eighteen year old Wilhelm Casey are just two of twenty scholarship recipients who will be attending Cuba’s Latin American School of Medicine.

Eugenio Martinez, Cuban Ambassador to Belize
“One hundred and sixty-one Belizeans are studying in Cuba. This twenty will join, so every year we offer this particular programme of full tuition, accommodation, and scholarship for medicine.”

Wilhelm Casey
“It’s a great pleasure to receive this scholarship because I know Cuba has one of the best medical schools and I think this scholarship is an excellent scholarship because it gives the opportunity to people like us who are not financially well off.”

Today the students gathered at the Education Centre on Mahogany Street for an orientation to prepare them for school and life on the socialist island.

Eugenio Martinez
“I’m explaining a little bit of my country, a brief history of Cuba because they are going to find a different environment. First, a Spanish environment, a socialist country, very friendly people. So I talk to them about how they are going to fit in the Cuban programme and the Cuba society.”

Teresita Levy, Education Officer, Min. of Education
“Even though you try to prepare them from here, you try to tell them what to expect, when they get out there, it’s still—I don’t think it really sinks in until you get out there, because it is different.”

One challenge that some of the scholars will encounter, is that of speaking Cuba’s native tongue.

Teresita Levy
“Speaking Spanish is an advantage, but it does not disqualify you, because it you look inside you will see quite a number of students, if you ask them if they speak Spanish, they will tell you know, because we feel that they are capable of learning the language once they get out there. Because we’ve had students in the past with no experience, no knowledge in Spanish, have gone out there, have done extremely well.”

Which is what Belmopan resident Wilhelm Casey is banking on.

Kendra Griffith
“You currently speak Spanish?”

Wilhelm Casey
“No, not at all, so it will be good to learn.”

Kendra Griffith
“Do you think that will be a challenge for you though or it won’t be much of a problem?”

Wilhelm Casey
“I’m hoping it won’t, but I am ready to face it and whatever happens, happens. I will try my best to learn. It’s going to be fun.”

Before they leave, the students will all sign a bond, promising to come back home after their six years of study and work for the government of Belize.

Teresita Levy
“We are approximating the cost is about a hundred thousand dollars Belize over the six years, and that’s what we bond them for, and that is taking into consideration their tuition, books, boarding, meals, stipend.”

Eugenio Martinez
“This year particularly, we have students from all districts. We went with the Toledo Mayan culture, with the Garifuna Council, with the Ministry of Education, and we are trying to represent the whole country, particularly those students that cannot afford studies, and they have a commitment to their communities and so when they return they will work in the villages, in that areas that are more poor, such as the south, [which is] rich in resources, but poor in qualified personnel.”

And while they will miss home, the students say they are excited to begin the journey to their dream career.

Cristina Valdez
“Of course you will miss your family.”

Kendra Griffith
“But you will be able to stick with it?”

Cristina Valdez
“Yes if you want something, I believe you must work towards it.”

Wilhelm Casey
“In Belize we are used to mostly the Creole culture. It will be good to see the Cuban culture and live in a different place where they speak only Spanish and it’s exciting to learn a new language too.”

Cristina Valdez
“Yes, I’m excited. It’s a very good opportunity for me to better myself in education.”

The group will leave Belize on February twenty-first when they will travel overland to Cancun and then fly to Cuba. Kendra Griffith reporting for News Five.

The students start classes on March first.