Urgent proposal to help SA medical students whose studies abroad were torpedoed by war in Ukraine – TimesLIVE

These students are constantly approaching SA medical schools for support and integration.

Furthermore, the war in Ukraine has created untold human suffering. For SA students studying in that country, the burdens of suddenly being without a place to study cannot be estimated. This has added the need for a more urgent response to their situation.

Medical student Vutlhari Mtonga was among the SA citizens who fled Ukraine when bombs rained down. She recently escaped from the death and destruction with 10 other SA students.

These are peoples lives. People are dying on the other side of the world. The message I want to put across is that South Africans must realise this is genocide happening in Ukraine, she said in an interview with Sunday Times Daily.

In the context of the colliding crises of the pandemic and war in Ukraine, SACOMD proposed establishing an urgent forum to discuss and create plans for processes managing all students studying medicine abroad.

This would include convening a group to urgently consider the placement of these Ukraine-based medical students in alternative European sites with reciprocal medical qualifications. This group should include SACOMD, Universities SA and government departments dealing with higher education and training, health, and international relations and co-operation.

It would also include ongoing discussions among medical deans to create suitable responses to the urgent needs for supporting student clinical development.

SACOMD comprises the leadership of faculties of health sciences which include medical schools in SA.

TimesLIVE

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Urgent proposal to help SA medical students whose studies abroad were torpedoed by war in Ukraine - TimesLIVE