The first batch of Cuban doctors have jetted into Kenya marking the culmination of a deal signed between the two countries for the deployment of the 100 specialist doctors.
The KLM flight carrying the medics whose contracting caused an uproar from local doctors touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 9.47pm.
The doctors were received by the Health Ministry’s Cabinet Administrative Secretary Dr Rashid Aman, Director of Medical Services Jackson Kioko and Kisumu County Governor Anyang Nyong’o.
According to Dr Aman, the doctors will undergo training at the Kenya School of Government for their induction into the local healthcare system.
“The doctors will be trained on how our healthcare system works before being deployed to public health facilities across several counties,” said Dr Aman.
After the training, they will then be linked with medical professionals from stations where they have been deployed.
“The main idea in bringing these specialists is to learn from the Cuban experience in building a robust primary and curative healthcare system that has afforded the country universal health care,” Dr Aman said.
Dr Aman also said the east African nation would send 50 local doctors to Cuba to be trained in family medicine.
“As part of the bilateral agreement we signed with Cuba, we are sending 50 of our doctors there so that they can learn the Cuban healthcare system which has been able to achieve universal health care. The team will comprise one doctor from each of the 47 counties,” said the health official.
