Pakistan-Cuba: Friends indeed

We are so used to hearing bad news that when the slightest glimmer of positivity reaches us, we have cause for celebration. The first graduating batch of Pakistani doctors will receive their degrees after seven years of study in medical colleges in Cuba. The total number of students in this first lot is 308 and it is a hopeful sign that they have graduated from renowned colleges and received training of such high standard that would not have been possible back home. These doctors are part of 1,000 Pakistani youngsters from humble backgrounds who have been offered full scholarships by the socialist government of Cuba. The idea for this kind of help came in 2005 when doctors from Cuba came to Pakistan to give hands-on attention to the many thousands of victims of the massive earthquake that shook the northern areas of Pakistan in the country’s biggest ever natural disaster. During their medical and rehabilitation efforts, the Cuban doctors noticed the lack of sound knowledge and medical advances in our country, and just how important it was to educate aspiring students who did not have the means in the field of medicine. Not only did these Cuban doctors serve Pakistan with distinction and dedication, they conveyed the need for proper education back to the government in their home country, which went on to offer the 1,000 scholarships. What was the catch? Only that, once these students graduated, they help their fellow countrymen back in Pakistan with their new found education and training.

Cuba has one of the very best medical and healthcare systems in the world with students arriving from all over to learn and train.

That 1,000 of our youngsters were provided this opportunity is a creditable deed indeed. One must also consider that Cuba is a country under US sanctions for over 50 years, suffering from economic hardships. It has a hard time sustaining itself much less students from other countries on its roll but it has generously managed to take this big step for Pakistani students. One must admit that out of all our ‘friends’ and allies, no one has ever quietly stepped in to do something this nice for our people without any strings attached. Cuba sends many of its medical experts to other countries for applause-worthy medical services and is now helping others to become doctors of such worth. It is hoped that Cuba recovers soon from the hardships that bind it and that more than these initial 1,000 scholarships are renewed for our young aspiring doctors.