The National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), Cuba chapter, has made a desperate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama, urging his intervention in what they describe as a humanitarian crisis among Ghanaian medical students studying in Cuba.
According to the group, students have gone without stipends for 17 months, while their book allowance has been denied for five consecutive years. Repeated appeals to the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat have gone unanswered, leaving many stranded in severe hardship.
In a statement released on Tuesday, September 9, the students painted a grim picture of their daily struggles. Some, they said, are forced to survive on nothing more than bread and water for days, while others walk long distances to attend lectures and clinical rotations because they cannot afford transport.
“Students are forced to skip unhealthy meals filled with flies and maggots or survive on bread and water for days. Several have fainted during clinical duties due to exhaustion and poor nutrition,” the statement revealed.
The union further cited challenges such as unaffordable internet access, lack of textbooks, and worsening mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. They warned that the crisis threatens not only their welfare but also Ghana’s future healthcare system, as these students are training to become doctors.
“This is not merely a financial issue—it is a humanitarian emergency. These are young Ghanaians who came here with dreams of becoming doctors to serve their nation. Today, they are fighting just to survive,” the group emphasized.
The executives of NUGS Cuba urged President Mahama to ensure the immediate release of all outstanding stipends, restore the book allowance, and establish a sustainable framework to prevent such delays in the future.
“With deepest respect and urgency, we ask that you act decisively—not just for us, but for the generations of patients we are being trained to serve,” the statement concluded.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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