Botswana medical students leave for Ghana

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has assured six Botswana students chosen to study human medicine at the University of Ghana that they would be leaving next week.

A representative of WHO, Dr Jean Kalilani told BOPA that the problems that delayed their departure have been solved.

Dr Kalinani said some of the reasons for the delay were that the request to accept the students at Ghana University went late, thereby affecting the processing of their applications by the university.

She said students had to fill forms to secure space for class and residential accommodation. All these have now been accomplished.

She said the delay also was caused by lack of space since all airlines destined to Ghana were full, adding that she was sure that by next week the students would have departed.

She said the students were placed for next year but through negotiations between the Ministry of Education in Botswana and the University of Ghana the students were admitted for this year, on the condition that they will receive tutorials upon their arrival to catch up with other students who are ahead of them by at least five weeks.

She dismissed as untrue that one of the delays was that there was disagreement between WHO and the Ministry of Health as to who should pay for tutorials because they were not part of the package promised by the sponsor, the WHO.

She said as far as she was aware, the Ministry of Health was supposed to pay for tutorials but asked BOPA to contact the Ministry for confirmation. BOPA could not contact the ministry as they were closed for the day's business.

This interview follows fears expressed by some of the six students who are destined to leave for Ghana. According to the students, they could have left for Ghana in October after signing bond with the government.

The students have not yet signed the bond and were unable to tell when they will be leaving. It is understood that four of the students withdrew from the University of Botswana doing BSc after being promised the scholarship by WHO and that they would leave soon.

"I am embarrassed by the whole situation," said one student.

Meanwhile Dr Kalilani has asked the students not to panic because they are definitely going and should spend their time preparing themselves.

She said there are already 14 Batswana students who are studying at Ghana University and it was pleasing to receive reports that they were doing well. The 14 were also sponsored by the WHO.

Dr Kalilani appealed to parents to talk to their children to work hard and show commitment to their studies.

She also asked the students to utilise the WHO office in Ghana in their stay at that West African country.