This year marks 60^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Cuba. Mongolia established diplomatic relations with Cuba on December 7, 1960 and Cuba is the first country that had diplomatic relations with Mongolia among Latin American countries. The two countries rendered great supports for the independence of each other then. Hundreds of Mongolians have studied and graduated in Cuba in the areas of medicine, physical education, sports and agriculture.

The bilateral ties have been expanding even now and the sides are cooperating in health and other sectors. We interviewed Kh.Oyunkhishig, Lecturer at the School of Dentistry of the Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS) and one of the Mongolian graduates in Cuba.

How many Mongolian students were there when you were studying in Cuba? How was the situation of the bilateral ties and Cuba?

I came to Cuba alone in 1997 to study dentistry. Prior to me, three people had been arrived there, two of them to study in medicine and another one in physical education. I lived there until 2005. Eight people studied dentistry besides me, two people in medicine, another two people in law, three people in economics and sports field separately and three other people in agricultural university in this period. Since then or since 1990, relations between the two countries weakened and interrupted. At that time Cuban situation was difficult due to its interrupted economic cooperation with number of countries. The bilateral ties have revived from 1995 and life in Cuba started becoming better from 1993. It was related with transition of socialist countries that had relations with Cuba to market society. And Cuban economic situation has upgraded from 1995 thanks to revival of its relations with countries such as China and Russia besides of Canada.

How was living environment and condition of that country when you were studying there? Did you face any encountering issue?

It was the period of economic recovery of Cuba when we were there. Even though they were in difficult situation themselves, Cuban people trained large number of students from underdeveloped countries. Especially, students from African and Arab countries have arrived a lot. Chinese and Vietnamese students started studying there since 2000. We used to be served with three free meals a day in our dormitory. We used to receive monthly stipend worth 100 Cuban pesos, which equals to USD 5. It was sufficient to buy our food and groceries. An additional stipend was also used to be granted to the students with high academic achievement. Generally, we did not lack of anything.   

What was the main criteria for selection of the Mongolian students?

Students who were studying at medical university in their first or second year were able to be involved in the scholarship program announced by the Cuban Government. And the students, whose grade point average (GPA) meet criteria, used to be selected.

What is the reason for high level of development of Cuban healthcare sector?

In general, the country’s health system is based on combination of American and French development of medicine. And practice training is very important part. For instance, students of the third course work at hospitals, experiencing the situation. People who studied in Cuba are well trained and acquire professional skills. Students of some countries study in a form of observation while we used to make practical treatment. This is an advantage. Therefore, a lot of students, physicians and specialists of European countries such as Spain, Portugal and Italy come to Cuba to study and make practice. Cuba is the country whose medical training quality is internationally recognized and where doctors and healthcare workers of many countries want to refresh their professional skills.

Cuba produced a rare drug, which treats diabetes, right?

People with diabetes are commonly at risk of suffering from gangrene and blindness. Therefore, Cuban specialists developed well medicinal product and injection for it. As they developed effective drug for recovering death tissue and preventing from it with the injection, Mongolian companies are importing the injection. Furthermore, “Songodo” hospital is making treatment on it.

Do your graduates communicate with each other? How many people are there graduated as a dentist? 

There are almost 15 dentists. Four of them are working at the School of Dentistry of the MNUMS. We are always connected through the activities of the Association of Mongolian Graduates in Cuba (AMGC). Generally, the AMGC makes plans yearly. Our dentists graduated in Cuba organize activities such as giving health knowledge to the citizens and conducting preventative examination.

What activities are your Association implementing ahead of the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations?

As I mentioned before, we are conducting preventive examination among the population, mostly involving kindergarten and schoolchildren. Due to the pandemic, the event cannot cover large number of people as we expected, however, examination has been carried out on around 130 children. Additionally, we run a blood donation campaign alongside tree-planting activities for the “Garden of Friendship” in the National Garden Park in Ulaanbaatar, planting trees for the 60^th jubilee of the bilateral diplomatic ties. Ambassador of Cuba to Mongolia, Former Ambassadors of Mongolia to Cuba took part in establishment of “Garden of Friendship” in collaboration with the graduates.