Cuba is ready to send doctors and other specialists to Fiji said the Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Fiji, José Manuel Galego Montano.

This is good news for people with diabetes.

Earlier this year, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between the University of Fiji (UniFiji) and the University of Havana in Cuba that could help prevent amputations.

The MOU is expected to strengthen Fiji’s health sector by facilitating knowledge exchange between medical specialists from Fiji and Cuba.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba to Fiji, José Manuel Galego Montano, said that medical students from Fiji would be granted scholarships to study in Cuba, while doctors and other healthcare professionals from Cuba would also visit Fiji.

Mr Montano said this would involve the expertise of Cuban specialists treating diabetes without resorting to amputation.

He cited the case of Venezuela, where approximately 150,000 diabetic patients were treated without amputation thanks to a special medicine developed by Cuban researchers.

Discussions for this agreement between UniFiji and the University of Havana started last year, according to UniFiji Vice Chancellor Professor Shaista Shameem.

“It has a long history of delivering higher education. The University of Fiji agreed to a wide range of mutual exchanges for staff and students in areas such as medicine, public health, science research and law,” she said.

She added that the partnership with one of oldest universities in the Americas, would collaborate with UniFiji on research and joint publications.

Story by: salote.qalubau@fijisun.com.fj