Jamaican med student in Cuba determined to finish

A fourth-year Jamaican medical student studying in Cuba says returning home to complete his degree is simply not an option because he cannot afford the cost of medical school here.

For the aspiring neurosurgeon from western Jamaica, remaining overseas is the only way to continue the journey that began after a tragedy in his childhood. Daniel*, 24, said his dream of becoming a doctor was shaped by a family tragedy.

"I want to become a neurosurgeon," he said. "My little brother died from a brain tumour when he was seven years old."

The experience, he said, left a lasting impact on him and motivated his decision to pursue medicine.

"I remember how helpless everyone felt," he said. "From that moment I knew I wanted to do something that could help people in situations like that."

Grant is currently studying at the University of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba, where he said studying medicine has been financially possible in a way that it would not be in Jamaica. According to him, tuition for the medicine and surgery programme at The University of the West Indies (UWI) can exceed $4 million, and when additional costs such as books, equipment, transportation and living expenses are included, the overall cost can run into several million dollars annually.

"I simply can't afford to study medicine in Jamaica," he told THE STAR.

The uncertainty comes amid recent tensions surrounding Jamaica's long-standing medical corporation arrangement with Cuba. Earlier this month the Jamaican government moved to discontinue the decades-old programme that allowed Cuban doctors and other medical professionals to work in the island's health system. The partnership helped supply hundreds of medical personnel to Jamaica's healthcare sector. Following the decision, Cuba announced it will withdraw its medical workers from the country, raising broader questions about the future of corporation between two nations.

Daniel said that classes at his medical school are typically held about three times per week, he said, allowing students time for independent study and preparation. Still, he admitted that life in Cuba has recently been marked by uncertainty among students.

"There's definitely tension," Daniel said. "People talk about what's happening politically and you can feel the uncertainty. The atmosphere is not as lively and colourful like they once were." He said conversations among international students often revolve around whether the situation could eventually affect their studies.

"Out of a full lecture room, almost half the class has left; now it is mostly locals. Everyone is wondering if anything will change," he said. "You try not to panic, but at the same time you can't ignore what's happening around you."

Several Jamaican students pursue medical degrees in Cuba each year because of the lower cost compared to studying locally. Daniel said he knows of students who have returned to Jamaica and enrolled at UWI to continue their training.

"But for me that's not possible. I couldn't afford it."

Asked what would happen if he were forced to return to Jamaica tomorrow, he said his studies would likely come to an abrupt end. Daniel said his circumstances back home make returning even more difficult.

"I barely even have a stable place to go back to," he said. "So finishing my studies here (Cuba) is really my only option."

He explained that his mother, a market vendor, has been his main source of support throughout his journey.

"It's just me and my mom," he said. "She sells in the market and she has sacrificed a lot to help me reach this point."

Grant said the responsibility he feels toward her is one of the reasons he remains determined to complete the programme.

"I have to make it for her," he said. "She worked too hard for me to give up now."

*Name changed to protect identity