Parents and loved ones held hands and said a prayer before bidding farewell to the 12 students from KwaZulu-Natal who left for Cuba yesterday to fulfil their dreams of studying medicine.
The youngest of five, Nhlanhla Mngadi of Esigodini in the Midlands, embarked on his first step toward attaining a medical qualification so he can return one day and give back to his community.
Mngadi was one of the students who flew out from King Shaka International Airport yesterday to begin their six years of studying medicine as part of the South Africa-Cuba joint academic programme.
The bursaries awarded to the students will cover the costs of books, accommodation and tuition.
Hurrying to Verulam police station to sort out his police clearance just hours before boarding, Mngadi was the last one to check in for his flight to Johannesburg.
Huffing and puffing at the check-in counter, he said: “I am scared and excited. I’m scared because so many people are counting on me and I am no longer doing this for myself.”
Dreaming of specialising in gynaecology one day, Mngadi counted his blessings for being given the opportunity and said he was looking forward to his visit home in two years’ time. His mother, Bahlomile Mngadi, said her only wish was for her son to return and build her a decent home.
Bahlomile, who earns a living by being part of the Zibambele project, an initiative by the Department of Transport in which people are employed to clean the roads, drains and clear the verges, said: “This is the first time that something like this has happened in Mid-Illovo. I am so proud of him.”
Mngadi’s father died in 2001 and his mother has been the sole provider since.
Lungisani Mfusi, 19, of Newcastle, said he had applied to study medicine at UKZN but there was no space available. After enrolling to study electrical engineering at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Mfusi dropped out because he said it was not for him. “Medicine has always been my passion,” he said.
The human resources development manager at the Department of Health, Gugu Mkhize, was at the airport to make sure the students were all set for their long trip.
“This project will make a difference in the way healthcare is delivered in this country. The Cubans emphasise health promotion by reaching out to their communities and we are embracing that here,” Mkhize said.
Since the launch of the programme 15 years ago, 155 students from the province have been trained as doctors. -Daily News [email protected]