At least 19 medical doctors, nurses and health workers of the Cuban Medical Team in The Gambia, on Friday, graduated with master of sciences degrees, at a ceremony held at the University of The Gambia (UTG) School of Medicine, Banjul

The graduates underwent programmes in natural and bio-energetic medicine, women's comprehensive care, children's comprehensive care, infectious diseases, medical emergency, healthy longevity and dental emergency.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Suibrto Hechavarria, the head of the Cuban Medical Team in The Gambia, recalled that in February 2006, the Cuban Medical Team started the programme for masters degrees in The Gambia.

"It was a goal of our government, to ensure the development of an extensive strategy, to ensure post graduate studies for the professionals involved in the Cuban international medical missions," he added.

Going back to history, Dr Hechavarria said that after five years into the triumph of the Cuban revolution, thousands of medical doctors, nurses and health workers graduated from the Cuban medical schools.

"The chief commander, Fidel Castro, was the one behind this idea. He proposed to increase the number of master of sciences and PhDs as a superior stage in the formation of human resources in Cuba," Dr Hechavarria revealed.

"To this end, an academic committee was created in The Gambia. It was responsible for the planning, organisation, control and assessment of the whole process. Nowadays, there are 112 collaborators enrolled in the masters programme and there are 6 modalities for the master of sciences degrees," he elaborated.

Dr Hechavarria told the gathering that the continuity of the masters programme is a great challenge, and that they will do their best to present new and better researches.
"Resulting from this graduation, the number of health professionals with masters degree in The Gambia rose from 15 to 39. This is a [source] of great pride, not only because of the opportunities and success that it represents to us all, but also the increase in quality regarding medical assistance to the Gambian people," he added.

"Now, The Gambian health system can count on this task force to accomplish more complex commitments. We are in [the position] of going forward with the community-based doctors programme and supporting the post-graduate studies of our Gambian colleagues," he noted.

Dr Hechavarria thanked the authorities of the UTG and the Department of State for Health and Social Welfare.

For his part, Dr Malick Njie, the secretary of state for Health and Social Welfare, said the results of the masters degrees' first edition, are dedicated to the 45th anniversary of the Cuban International Medical Missions and the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive health programme.

SoS Njie said that the graduation is another contribution to the health of Africa, describing Cuba as a true friend of The Gambia.

He thanked the Cuban doctors for their contribution to the health sector.
The ceremony was also attended by secretaries of state, Dr Ousman Nyan, the provost of the School of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, who also doubles as the deputy vice chancellor at the UTG, and the WHO representative, among other dignitaries.