Andrew Kathindi
Namibian medical students at the University of Havana (Universidad de Sciencias Médicas) have lamented the non-payment of their monthly allowances by the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MOHSS) amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. There are 238 students involved in this situation.
According to several students at the University who choose to speak out anonymously, they last received a stipend late in March, which was supposed to cover only February and March.
The students are supposed to receive a monthly stipend of US$350 paid quarterly.
“They paid for two months only at the rate of US$1=N$14.7 (February’s rate). By the time they paid, the dollar was at 1USD=N$18.3. Students were only left with US$553 and that is close to nothing in a country under economic sanctions and in the crisis of COVID-19. And we have had to survive on that amount for 4 months. Some students here come from poor backgrounds and the stipend literally is the only means of survival,” the student claimed.
One affected student said that they were divided on whether they would want to be repatriated after the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (MIRCO) invited Namibians wishing to return to contact them.
“The universities didn’t give us a clear indication as to when they will resume classes. They said it depends on the situation in the country. So, it’s hard to say if we should repatriate, then half way in, school reopens.”
Regarding the conditions on the ground, another student said “the situation in the country as a whole is getting better and the number of confirmed pandemic cases is dropping. The Cuban health system revolves around prevention, so they put up good measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
“They have suspended all academic activities and we are encouraged to study in the residences. They even made an effort to give each student in the residences two fabric face masks, and put a solution of hypochlorite at build entrances for washing hands.”
Namibian International Students Organization (NAMISO), Secretary of Health, Albanus Desderius said the organisation has made efforts to contact the Embassy of Namibia in Havana, Ministry of Health and Social Services as well as the Ministry of International Relations to assist them by sending a Charter Plane to the Caribbean Island nation with basic cosmetics and supplies for the students.
According to NAMISO, students studying at the university from other countries such as Angola have already received such ‘care parcels.’
“We made effort to reach them. We made this request last month (April) and up to now we didn’t get a clear response. They’re apparently looking into the matter. Students are in a state of vagueness and hoping for the government to respond and hear their outcry,” Desderius said.
Due to long-standing US economic sanctions on Cuba, it has been reported that toiletry supplies are scarce in the country and there has been a lack of basic cosmetics like toothpaste, lotion, sanitary pads, etc.
The NAMISO official added that students are also facing a medical insurance problem, but the students’ sponsor (MoHSS) was in the process of concluding an arrangement with Cuban authorities.
“The embassy is willing to help cover the bills while things are falling into place,” he said.
Efforts to contact the Minister of Health, Kalumbi Shangula were fruitless as he could not be reached at the time of publication. Deputy Minister, Esther Utjiua Muinjangue referred all queries to the Executive Director, Ben Nangombe, who also was unreachable.
The plight on students in Cuba follows local media reports of students having a similar experience in Russia. Authorities in Cuba shut schools down shortly after the first COVID-19 case was reported on March 11.
