Long hours at church: Health MEC reports back on visit to Cuba
Health MEC, Sibongiseni Dhlomo, discussed his visit to Cuba earlier this month to address reports of challenges faced by South African medical students in Cuba.
KZN’s Health MEC recently visited Cuba following concerns about the conduct of some medical students relating to long hours spent on church activities while studying in Havana.
According to the MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, the main issue reported was that of long hours spent by some students on church activities.
“Our concern and fears was that seven hours a day for a week was quite a long time to be dedicated to such activities by medical students as it might compromise their preparation time for their exams. It was also reported that a KZN pastor had visited Cuba and met with students without the knowledge of the South African Embassy in the country,” explained Dhlomo.
After getting advice from the KZN Premier, Cabinet and the Provincial Health Portfolio Committee, together with at least 40 religious leaders, the MEC was advised to address the matter, which affected the students’ studies, and was given the directive to attend to the pressing matter.
Dhlomo and his team met with university authorities, including vice-rectors and rectors of the seven universities, before meeting with all the South African students. “The discussions were frank and quite engaging. It was communicated to students that the Cuban officials were concernd that there wasn’t 100 percent class attendance, that some students had not shown up for exams in June 2015, late coming and concern about a high number of supplementary exams as well as a steadily-rising number of students failing and facing exclusions. Students were also informed of concerns pertaining to some that indulge in alcohol excessively,” he explained.
In the discussions, Dhlomo said it came out that most students were very involved in church activities. “Our students have always enjoyed this freedom of association and it was part of their coping strategy to keep themselves well in a foreign country, so we also welcomed this practice and encouraged them to continue.
“Concerns, however, are with a particular church, whose student leader said they had about 150 members. This is the group that is associated with the invitation of a pastor from Pietermaritzburg. Student church leaders indicated they did not see anything wrong with using their stipend to bring or buy a ticket and organise hotel accommodation for the pastor to visit them in Cuba. These student church leaders also indicated they have reduced the number of hours they spend on church activities, and this is welcomed,” he added.
Dhlomo said some students had expressed pleasure that the matter was addressed and all agreed that to prioritise medical training in instead of pastoral training. “In all this, our observation was since students have been spoken to, they will honour their undertaking to reduce the number of hours devoted to church matters as we all don’t want them to lose out on their studies.”
