The number of Eritrean Medical Doctors expected to increase by fifty percent

        
           

Meadna News, November 23, 2005

          
           
The first Eritrean medical school, Orota School of Medicine that was opened in 2004 is expected to increase the number of Eritrean doctors by over fifty percent by 2010. The first batch of students is expected to complete their doctorates by 2009.

In a drive to develop Eritrea’s economy and to improve access of education and health care to all its citizens, Eritrea is spending vast amount of money on education and infrastructure. As part of this drive, Orota School of medicine is expected to produce Doctors, which the country needs crucially. The teachers make up of Eritrean and Cuban professors. Dr. Stefanos Paulos, an Eritrean teacher told Er-Tv: “The establishment of this school will not only increase the number of doctors in Eritrea, but it will also bring changes to the quality of doctors. As they are being educated in this country, we are going to have doctors who will recognise and address our problems.”

     
The opening of this first medical school in Eritrea is also seen as a great stride in achieving the country’s “self -reliance” policy. “Currently many of the new referral hospitals are being run by foreign expert. If we are to bring a fundamental change, we need to produce Eritrean experts. The formation of this school will help us to achieve this and to cover the shortage of doctors in our country.” said one of the students.        
Another student, a graduate from Asmera University, Mikal, said: “when foreign doctors come here to carry out surgeries, we observe in order to learn practically. My wish is six years later, we would do these surgeries ourselves and they would come here to help us rather than take full responsibility. I am hopeful that we will be able to take care of it.”

The school has created opportunity for students who aspire to become doctors. The school takes students from Asmera University and Maynefhi, Institute of Technology. The students do not pay for any thing and all expenses are covered by the government.

All the teachers praised the students’ hard work and performance. One of the Cuban teachers said: “My name is Mira. I teach medicine, biochemistry and immunology. During 30 years of my teaching career, I taught thousands of students, but these students are special, they are gifts.