Eight Cuban medical specialists have joined Namibia’s healthcare workforce, raising the total number of Cuban doctors in the country to 98. Their arrival aims to address the critical shortage of medical professionals, especially in underserved regions.
The deployment is part of a 2015 bilateral agreement between Namibia and Cuba. The newly arrived doctors specialize in diverse fields, including internal medicine, neurosurgery, paediatrics, orthopaedics, psychiatry, gynaecology, neonatology, and maxillofacial surgery, among others.
“These Cuban collaborators will contribute to enhancing healthcare in Namibia’s remote areas,” said Cuban Ambassador Sergio Vigoa de la Luz. The specialists have been assigned to hospitals in Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop, Oshakati, Engela, and Katutura Intermediate Hospital, where their expertise is most needed.
Cuba’s partnership with Namibia in healthcare began in 1991, with approximately 2,000 Cuban doctors having served in the country since independence. Currently, 120 Cuban professionals are contributing to various sectors, including agriculture, education, and construction.
In addition, over 100 Namibian doctors graduated from Cuban universities last year and are now working in state hospitals across Namibia.
Cuba’s robust healthcare system, which includes a successful maternal and child health programme and comprehensive vaccination initiatives, serves as a model for global collaboration. Ambassador Vigoa de la Luz reaffirmed Cuba’s commitment to strengthening Namibia’s healthcare sector through this ongoing partnership.