Guyana’s healthcare sector has been further strengthened with the addition of two newly trained medical specialists who have successfully completed their post-graduate specialisations in Cuba.
Their achievements follow that of Dr. Cymoné Nedd, the first Guyanese specialist for 2024, who has already returned home and is attached to the Ministry of Health.
Among the latest specialists is Dr. Vanessa Singh, who qualified as a Radiologist at the University of Medical Sciences of Santiago de Cuba in December 2024.
A self-financing postgraduate student, Dr. Singh was recognized as an outstanding student, achieving a 100 per cent score in her State Final Examinations during her second and third years.
Dr. Singh first arrived in Cuba in 2003 on a Government of Guyana scholarship to pursue her undergraduate studies at the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) in Havana and later at the University of Medical Sciences in Las Tunas, where she graduated with distinction (Titulo de Oro).
After returning to Guyana in 2009, she served at the Mahaicony and Fort Wellington Hospitals and later spearheaded the Primary Health Care Program along the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara.
Her stellar performance during her 2022–2024 postgraduate studies in Radiology earned her recognition from the Cuban Society of Radiologists, which showcased her exceptional academic work as a foreign student.
The second specialist, Dr. Mallika Singh Gonzalez, successfully completed a four-year postgraduate program in General Surgery and Breast Surgical Oncology in Havana, alongside several other medical diplomas. Her Breast Surgery Oncology training took place at Cuba’s National Institute of Oncology and Radiology (INOR), while her General Surgery studies were conducted at Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital and Calixto Garcia Medical Institute, University of Medical Sciences of Havana.
Dr. Singh Gonzalez first arrived in Cuba in 2006 on a Government of Guyana scholarship to pursue her MD Degree, graduating in 2013 before returning to Guyana to serve under the Ministry of Health.
The latest additions bring the total number of Cuban-trained medical doctors and specialists added to Guyana’s healthcare system to 15 between 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. Their expertise is expected to significantly enhance Guyana’s medical capacity, particularly in radiology and surgical oncology.
In a show of diplomatic support, Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, His Excellency Halim Majeed, met with Dr. Vanessa Singh to commend her achievements. Meanwhile, Dr. Mallika Singh Gonzalez was congratulated by Ms. Mayte Perdomo, Confidential Secretary to Ambassador Majeed, and First Secretary at the Guyana Embassy, Mr. Quincy Younge.
These latest medical graduates represent Guyana’s ongoing investment in human capital within the healthcare sector, ensuring improved access to specialized medical care for its citizens.