Zanzibar Offers Full Scholarship to Students Studying Medicine

Full Scholarship to Students Studying Medicine

IN efforts to increase the number of medical professionals in the islands, the Zanzibar government will henceforth provide full sponsorship to students interested in studying medicine.

"Our plan is to improve health services for the people, and the only sure way to achieve the goal is to have medical experts in the country. The government has decided to pay for anyone interested in pursuing the profession," said Zanzibar Second Vice- President Seif Ali Iddi.

He was talking to students studying medicine under the Cuba-Zanzibar health improvement programme in Chake Chake, Pemba, where he had gone to inspect the students' progress.

Iddi said that students were free to choose a medical specialty they preferred and the government would pay for their studies as the demand for doctors, nurses, dentists and psychiatrists was still very high.

"We need to have skilled personnel in all hospitals, dispensaries, and clinics throughout the islands so that our aim for universal access of health care is achieved," he said. Under the Cuba-Zanzibar health programme, 50 medical doctors would be graduating soon. The medical school started in 2008.

The students thanked the government, saying that insufficient funds, laboratory equipment, lack of reliable transport and lack of internet services were challenges hampering their academic development.

Dr Maria Makdalema from Cuba, who is head of the medical school, said despite the challenges the students were performing well. According to Dr Salhia Muhsin Ali from the Ministry of Health, 38 of the 50 students are from Unguja island.