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Premier Stofile meets Cuban Minister
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Premier's Office

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MEDIA RELEASE
 FOR IMMEDIATE USE
 29 MARCH 2001

PREMIER STOFILE MEETS CUBAN MINISTER

Eastern Cape Premier Rev Makhenkesi Stofile held a meeting to discuss matter of mutual interest with the Cuban Minister of Public Health 
Dr. Dotres Martinez in Bisho on 29 March 2001.

Dr Martinez is on a one-day visit to the Eastern Cape to discuss ways of improving the existing cooperation arrangements with the Province, 
which already has an over 100-member contingent of Cuban Doctors that are deployed to assist with improving public health services in 
especially rural areas.

Welcoming Dr. Martinez, Premier Stofile said: we are happy to be counted as one of the beneficiaries of Cubas sacrifices for the 
liberation of others. He said though Cuba is not a rich country yet, it is prepared to help other less fortunate countries. He recalled a 
song sang during the liberation struggle about 20 years ago, which was to the effect that &#145;how are we going to thank the Cubans. He 
said the Eastern Cape and South Africa would continue to be indebted to Cuba for all the assistance and sacrifices the country made during 
the liberation struggle and also in the struggle for a better life for all.

Dr Martinez said Cuba had excellent relations with the Eastern Cape. He began his visit in Umtata with a meeting at the University of 
Transkei to discuss cooperation on the training of many Eastern Cape medical students currently doing their studies in Cuba. Currently 
there are 25 students from the Eastern Cape that are doing medical studies in Cuba. Dr Martinez said the plan is to ensure that they 
complete their final in South African Universities.

Currently discussions are underway with these medical universities on how to cooperate, and Dr Martinezs deputy will remain in the 
province for some time to pursue the discussions on the integration of curriculum of the Cuban and South African Universities including 
Unitra Medical School.

The Public Health Minister further extended a hand of more help to the Eastern Cape, saying greater cooperation would be established with 
the Province to ensure that her health services were second to none in South Africa. Premier Stofile welcomed the visit and the offer of 
more help as very exciting and encouraging.

MEC For Health in the Eastern Cape, Dr. Bevan Goqwana, who was part of the meeting, said the Cubans were the best option for South Africa 
when consideration had to be given to getting foreign assistance to address serious deficiencies of the provinces human resources and 
specifically doctors. He said the Cubans have an excellent primary health care system and were most suited to be deployed in the Eastern 
Cape to help transform the mind set of most medical workers and the health care system to be more receptive to working in rural areas. He 
said the government had built many clinics to promote primary health care but was limited by human resources shortage in delivering better 
quality health services.

Dr Martinez and his entourage were part of the Non Aligned Movement Health Ministers meeting on March 26 and 27. On March 29 he visited 
North West Province, now he is in the Eastern Cape and on 30 March he will be in Pretoria before returning to Cuba.

Both leaders welcomed the agreement signed by their respective Presidents and undertook to build of that foundation to advance the existing 
cooperation arrangements.

Issued:  Communications Division  Office of the Premier
 Inquiries: Manelisi Wolela - 082-4147768 / 040-6392070 Fax: (040) 635 0124
E-mail Address: manelisi@otpmleg1.ecape.gov.za

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