Solomons medical students leave for training in Cuba
Updated
A senior Solomon Islands health official says Iran is likely to reimburse the cost of airfares for a group of students flying to Cuba to study medicine. The 25 students left Honiara for Havanna this afternoon. The Under Secretary for Health Care, Doctor Cedric Alependava says he's comfortable with accepting money from Iran for the training of doctors. The recent decision by Solomons Islands to establish relations with Iran has caused controversy in the country. But Doctor Alependava says Solomon Islands needs doctors and he's happy that the students were able to leave for their medical training in Cuba.
presenter: Sam Seke
Speaker: Solomon Islands Under Secretary for Health Care, Doctor Cedric Alependava
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DR ALEPENDAVA: Oh, yes, we are very, very happy because now we are going to increase our doctors in the Solomon Islands. Currently we have 110 doctors that were produced within 40 or 50 years and we have not met the demand of increasing population. And the regional institution whereby FSM and UPNG are providing five each year. It's not enough to cater for the population demand. Therefore we see that Cuba is the way to produce mass number of doctors to cater for our population.
SAM SEKE: You have obviously secured money for their airfare. Was this paid by the government of the Republic of Iran as indicated by the Department of Foreign Affairs?
DR ALEPENDAVA: No. Currently this was paid by the Minister for Education, Minister of Education from training and they have purchased their tickets. I don't know of any arrangement later that might happen. And maybe if Iranian funding might offset the amount of money that was spent - $1.2 million together for their tickets. So the Minister of Health is providing their allowances for the five to six years training.
SAM SEKE: So it's likely that the Iranian Government would refund any money spent by the Ministry of Education, is that what you're saying?
DR ALEPENDAVA: Most probably. If the Iranian Government maybe give money to us through Foreign Affairs and if the Minister of Education ask for it they might reimburse the amount of money that was spent for ticket.
SAM SEKE: Doctor, some people are questioning why Solomon Islands should have a controversial country like Iran if they were going to refund the airfare cost anyway for the students going to Cuba to study medicine. So why Iran? Are you comfortable with their sponsorship if they refunded the money spent by the Solomon Islands Government?
DR ALEPENDAVA: Yes, I'm comfortable. Whether the money comes from any country, for that matter, so long as if the money come from then we spend it to help produce doctors because we want to increase manpower in order to help developing doctors. So I would welcome any country at all, for that matter. Although there is maybe different perceptions, mixed feelings about that country, they're willing to help so we want to take it.
