Belmopan, August 26 (RHC/Channel5Belize.com) -- Thirteen Belizeans have been awarded scholarships to come and study Medicine in Cuba. A "going away" ceremony was held for them at the Cuban Embassy on Friday.

Scholarship recipient Hiram Gongorra described coming to study in Cuba as rewarding, both personally and family-wise. “It is humbling for me,” he said, “and it is a great opportunity for my family to have somebody who will eventually be a dentist, to say hey my child is studying in Cuba."

Lissette Perez, Cuba’s Ambassador to Belize, said the granting of scholarships was a program that Cuba pursued not only with Belize but with all CARICOM members. We have been offering scholarship to each CARICOM member for many many years, she said, noting that the program was an idea of the late Commander in Chief Fidel Castro following the destructive path over the region of a hurricane Mitch in the late 90's. "This is our humble contribution… helping create human resources… It is a symbol of Cuban solidarity and brotherhood towards the region, said the Ambassador.

The group of medical students leaves for Cuba on Sunday. Over 200 Belizeans have studied medicine in Cuba.