11 more Cuban-trained doctors graduate in Essequibo
Written by Rajendra Prabhulall, Friday, 26 July 2013 21:18, Source
ELEVEN more Cuban-trained Guyanese doctors graduated last Saturday at the Suddie Hospital on the Essequibo Coast after completing a one-year internship there.
They were presented with certificates, having previously concluded a six-year General Medicine Programme in Cuba.
Addressing the graduands, officials of the Cuban Government and several other doctors, nurses and technicians in the Suddie Hospital Boardroom, Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam) Chairman, Mr. Parmanand Persaud thanked the Government of Cuba for training the Guyanese.
He remarked that the cooperation between Guyana and Cuba is bearing much fruit in the field of medicine and pointed to the agreement that was made between former Guyanese President Bharrat Jagdeo and Cuba’s Ex-President Fidel Castro, which allowed students from Guyana to study and be trained in Cuba.
Persaud said the Guyana/Cuba friendship did not offer only scholarships, but also assistance through which doctors, nurses and technicians were provided to manage the five diagnostic centres across this country.
The Cuban Medical Brigade has contributed a lot to Guyana and its people and the nation is very thankful to the Cuban Government.
Tremendous contribution
Alluding to the Cuban contributions to his region, Persaud said every time a batch of doctors, nurses and technicians have to leave there and go back to Cuba it is very sad because of their tremendous contributions and services in the health sector.
He said Essequibians do not see them as Cubans, but as fellow Essequibians.
Persaud congratulated and thanked the Cuban Government for hosting the students for six years during their study and for training them at the Suddie Hospital for one year during their internship.
He also expressed thanks to the Government of Guyana for selecting the students and making all arrangements to get them trained as doctors in Cuba.
Persaud challenged the new graduates to serve their country and people well, remarking that he is proud of the Guyanese doctors.
Dr. Katia Maria Ochoa Agnilora, who was part of the Cuban delegation, said she was honoured to participate in the graduation exercise for the eleven Cuban-trained doctors because it is a Guyana/Cuba collaborative effort.
She said the doctors now have a great responsibility ahead of them to show the country and people what they have learnt in Cuba over the past six years.
She said she is proud to have the graduands return home to serve their country, noting that the reason they were trained is to come back and be of service to the people.
The 11 graduates are Suzette Alana Regnolds,Vijay Persaud, Simolana Swan, Andy Da Silva, Khilouti Dass, Marlon Sooknarine, Deoram Kajram, Chavita Bisnauth, Patricia Lew-Wai-See, Cordel Mc Watt and Suresh Seurattan.
Seurattan’s mother, who lives at Cullen, Essequibo Coast, admitted she is happy to see her son graduate as a doctor.
Brought tears
Ms. Omadai (only name stated) said the occasion brought tears to her eyes.
Originally from The Pomeroon, she said she and her husband made many sacrifices for their son during his training in Cuba.
She disclosed that she prayed and fasted many times for him to be successful at his examinations.
His father, Mr. Ishwar (only name given) said he, too, takes pride in his son’s achievement and thanked the Governments of Guyana and Cuba for training him as a doctor.
Kajram’s mother, a single parent named Shirley, also confessed to her happiness at seeing her son graduate.
She said he is her last child and, while he studied in Cuba, she supported him. She is thankful to God for his success and the Governments of Guyana and Cuba for giving him the opportunity to study and graduate.
She confessed that, without help from both Governments, her son could never have become a doctor.
Mrs. Keeratie Dass, of Adventure, Essequibo Coast, said she is also happy, proud and thankful to God for the Governments of Guyana and Cuba and all the doctors and professors who helped train her daughter, Khilouti, to become a doctor.
She said Dass, who is her last child, did very well. Her husband died 10 years ago and she fought alone to support her daughter while she was in Cuba.
Regnolds’s mother, Mrs. Juliet Boyce uttered similar sentiments, revealing that her daughter had an interest in medicine since she was four years old.
She said her husband died while Suzette was in the third year of her study in Cuba but, being a very strong person, her daughter strove to the end and completed her studies.
Also at the graduation were Regional Vice-Chairman Mr. Vishnu Samaroo, and Head of the Regional Health Committee, Mr. Omesh Oditt.
