On 2020-04-27 08:15:48 Louise ( Miss Red) said:
Well I did not search;) was just reacting to seeing this post. Have gone to search after because i wanted to know the answers.,).

Anyway we all know there are a lot of foreigners in our country in every conceivable profession and job.

Just seems sad that our country has to import doctors to up the numbers of doctors in state hospitals. And this being a direct result of our own doctors in past years leaving our country in big numbers to work overseas.

And why did they leave? Salaries? Working conditions?

Fact is many doctors only work aslong as they have to in state hospitals to complete their mandatory term. Then moves on into pvt practice or leave S.A. to go work overseas. Where salaries and working conditions are better.

Maybe covid is not such a bad thing to happen as this will get state to take a hard look at state hospitals. The working conditions and the salaries that those that do work there earns.

Maybe our state will now realize that these people are valuable. Maybe they will get better salaries in future. And the working conditions will improve.

We can only hope that will be the case. But if so, it will be in a couple of years because we as a country first have to get out of this massive hole we are finding ourselves in after this event, and doesnt seem like we are even close to have reached the bottom of the hole yet.

On 2020-04-27 06:41:10 Kooni said:
Although not "privvie" to the details (Testing / Isolation), I am sure those doctors are not infected. Cuba as a country are not as much affected as many other countries. Although they not a 1st world country, their Health Systems are way better than ours. There are already a large number of Cuban doctors working in South Africa.

And that is why a staff of one of my clients in Limpopo passed away in hospital about 3 years ago while being attended by one of those Cuban doctors that were in the country then. The poor guy never woke up from the anesthetic shot that was administered to him in the casualty room by the Cuban doc. And it was not a fancy procedure as well, broken limb bone.
Rather let me look after myself than one of those "docs".

On 2020-04-27 08:22:52 Kooni said:
On 2020-04-27 08:16:55 lookingforfun29 said: I'm sure Cuba needs all the help it can get. It currently has 1300+ cases of the virus.

Have I missed something here ? Has Cuba has succesfully flattened the curve and new infections are on a FAST downward spiral ?

Don't think Cuba has Covid under control, but as a country they have the highest number of medical doctors per capita, therefor can afford to assist in other countries. Have read somewhere that more than 1200 Cuban doctors have left Cuba to assist with the care of Covid infected people in other countries. In return these countries assist them with medical supplies they may require to fight the virus in Cuba itself.

Thanks Kooni - didn't know they had so many dr's. Makes more sense now.

And that is why a staff of one of my clients in Limpopo passed away in hospital about 3 years ago while being attended by one of those Cuban doctors that were in the country then. The poor guy never woke up from the anesthetic shot that was administered to him in the casualty room by the Cuban doc. And it was not a fancy procedure as well, broken limb bone.
Rather let me look after myself than one of those "docs".[/QUOTE]

I had the opposite experience. A family memebre being treated by a Cuban doctor. TOTALLY professional, knowledgeable and a very educated person.
We should be thankful for the support. We are going to need it!

This is a world wide thing, any help is appreciated ;)

We can't discriminate against a Dr because of the country he/she comes from.

A South African Dr could make a mistake and loose a patient. Same for a American Dr or Indian Dr etc etc. Any Dr can make a error and loose a patient irrespective of what country they come from.

On 2020-04-27 04:54:11 Louise ( Miss Red) said:
Letting people in over our borders doctors or not is like potentially inviting in new cases if they have not been tested? Have those doctors been working before coming here? Have they been isolated for at least two weeks before coming here?.. is our government gonna isolate them till they have been tested and got the clear?

I've watched the whole thing. They were in isolation before coming here. They are going into isolation for two weeks again here by us.

Can they speak and understand English??

The Cuban Drs are all about paying back Cuba for their support of the ANC under apartheid. Nothing more, nothing less. Whether they can string a coherent English sentence together or not, or provide medical services, is not of any concern.
That was the case with the Cuban army mechanics and all other so called Cuban professionals.