Madombidzha student spreads his wings to Cuba

"You received this donation as a result of hard work and we are very proud of you,” said Dr Audrey Dagada when handing over R5 000 to Tondani Mabirimisa (20) of Madombidzha.

Mabirimisa received a bursary from the Department of Health to go and study medicine in Cuba. Along with 99 other students, he left for Cuba on Monday. The initiative forms part of an agreement between South Africa and Cuba, and the Limpopo provincial government was tasked to identify 100 students from previously disadvantaged communities for undergraduate and post-graduate studies in medicine in Cuba.

Mabirimisa is one of the 2013 matrics who worked hard to make the most of the few opportunities they had. He is the pride of his family and of the Maluta High School in Madombidzha.

According to Dr Dagada, her company has endeavoured to improve the standard of education in the country, especially in rural areas. “This is part of our company’s mission of giving something back to the community. We hope other companies will learn that it is important to do something for the community, because they are the ones who made us what we are today,” said Dagada.

"I never thought something like this would actually happen to me one day," exclaimed the excited young man. Although very happy, he is also a bit nervous. Mabirimisa said it took a lot of effort for him to pass the exams with five distinctions. "I achieved all this through the Lord’s guidance. I will try not to disappoint my parents, the community and my donor,” he promised.

The Department of Health's spokesperson, Mr Mack Lesufi, said that the sole purpose of sending the students to Cuba was to familiarise them with the Primary Health Care System, which is relevant to the South African public health system. He said that, in Limpopo, there was a huge shortage of doctors.

Lesufi said that once the students had completed their second year, they would be given an opportunity to come home for a visit. "They will get a ticket on completion of their studies in the fifth year to return to South Africa to do their last year at Medunsa," said Lesufi.

The official language of Cuba is Spanish, which will be an initial stumbling block for the students.

Lesufi said that the students would get support from the department in the form of stipends and information. Every year, Lesufi said, there would be formal visits to Cuba by senior management, provincial coordinators and the national department. The students will go through an orientation programme, which includes Cuban history, culture and its people, logistical issues, their conduct and discipline during their stay in Cuba. He said that they would also be briefed about the relationship between South Africa and Cuba before and after the dawn of democracy.

Date:05 December 2014

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

Read: 6669