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Cuba-trained US medics graduate Cuba-trained US doctors graduate
(about 20 hours later)
Eight US students are to graduate from a medical school in Cuba where they have spent the past six years training to become doctors. Eight US students have graduated from a Cuban medical school after completing a six-year study programme funded by the country's communist government.
Their studies were fully funded by Cuba's communist government. The eight came to Cuba as part of a deal agreed between President Fidel Castro and members of Washington's Congressional Black Caucus.
Under the deal, students must return to their communities in the US to offer low-cost healthcare. Under the plan, Cuba offers students from deprived backgrounds full scholarships, including accommodation.
The students came to Cuba as part of a deal agreed between President Fidel Castro and members of Washington's Congressional Black Caucus. They are meant to return to the US to offer low-cost healthcare.
The stories of the six medical students are something of a propaganda coup with Cuba, a poor communist Caribbean island, providing free training to medical students from its arch-enemy, the US. The BBC's Michael Voss in Havana says the stories of the six medical students are something of a propaganda coup with Cuba.
Foreign policy tool Hearts and minds
Under the plan, Cuba offers students from deprived backgrounds full scholarships - including tuition, textbooks, food and accommodation. Cuba's vice president Carlos Lage and other Cuban leaders attended a graduation ceremony for the students at Havana's Karl Marx theatre.
The single condition is that they must return to their respective communities and provide cheap healthcare to those who cannot afford full-price healthcare. "We get everything from books, even uniforms. But the conditions are that we go back to our communities, wherever we're needed, and we provide healthcare and that's what we really want to do, so we're actually looking forward to it," Evelyn Erickson, a graduate from New York told the BBC.
Senior members of the Cuban government are expected to attend Tuesday evening's graduation ceremony in the capital.
According to the Cuban authorities, more than 80 young US students are currently receiving training at the Latin American Medical School in Havana, whose qualifications are recognised by the World Health Organization.According to the Cuban authorities, more than 80 young US students are currently receiving training at the Latin American Medical School in Havana, whose qualifications are recognised by the World Health Organization.
In recent years, Cuba's free healthcare system has become a key foreign policy tool for winning hearts and minds in the developing world, particularly across South and Central America and parts of Africa. Cuba's free healthcare system has been a key foreign policy tool for winning hearts and minds in the developing world, our correspondent says.
The government has sent tens of thousands of Cuban doctors abroad to help some of the world's poorest communities.The government has sent tens of thousands of Cuban doctors abroad to help some of the world's poorest communities.
It also trains large numbers of foreign doctors on the island.It also trains large numbers of foreign doctors on the island.
According to the official newspaper, Granma, there are currently more than 5,000 medical students from 25 countries studying in Cuba.According to the official newspaper, Granma, there are currently more than 5,000 medical students from 25 countries studying in Cuba.