Cuban Government will assist Fiji through provision of more scholarships in the medical and health care services which will add to the care of doctors who have returned home to serve the nation at various health centers around the country.
The Ambassador of Cuba in Fiji, José Manuel Galego Montano stated this during an introductory call received by the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Lesikimacuata Korovavala.
Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Lesikimacuata Korovavala says they welcome Cuba’s desire to upgrade collaboration in the provision of scholarships and the recently approved Memorandum of Understanding for exchanges in sports development.
Korovavala says as part of Cuba’s scholarships program, 17 Fijian doctors who graduated in Cuba are now serving at various health care facilities in Fiji.
He says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work closely with the Cuban Embassy in Suva to see how best they can collaborate in the key areas of socioeconomic development.
Korovavala says Cuba has expressed interest to provide new scholarships this year in medical and health care, geography, and oceanology.
He says this would be an avenue to advance Fiji and Cuba’s cooperation in our shared priorities such as climate change, oceans and environment protection, disaster management, education, sugar industry, agriculture, health care and sports, among others.
Montano says there are over 40,000 doctors who were trained in Cuba and are now working in different countries around the world with more than 2,000 teachers, trainers and others specialist as well.
He says Cuba is ready to offer Fiji with capacity building and skills training, human resources development in health and education sector.
