WINDHOEK – Namibian students pursuing medical related courses at Cavendish University in Zambia will commence classes, following approval by the Health Professions Council of Zambia for the university to offer the Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery programme.
However, there is a catch, as the course will only be offered only to returning Namibian students.
In a letter addressed to the Vice Chancellor of Cavendish University signed by Dr Aaron Mujajati, the registrar of the Health Professions Council of Zambia, the council explicitly emphasised the Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery programme would “only offer this degree programme to the returning students, that is those that were enrolled in the programme at the time of withdrawal of approval.”
Mujajati stated Cavendish should not enroll any new students until such a time the construction of its wet laboratories are complete.
Wet Laboratory space types are defined as laboratories where chemicals, drugs, or other material or biological matters are tested and analysed requiring water, direct ventilation, and specialised piped utilities.
“This is because the Council has noted that the institution with whom Cavendish University of Zambia has a memorandum of understanding for use of wet laboratories is currently saturated thereby leaving minimal laboratory time for you and thus disadvantaging your students. Note that the aforementioned ban on enrolment of new students will only be lifted once the Council is satisfied, that the constructed wet laboratories meet the requirements as per the set standards. “Non-compliance to this directive will result in punitive action and subsequent closure of the Bachelors of Medicine and Surgery programme,” according to a letter, signed by Mujajati.
Further, Mutjajati also acknowledged the Health Professions Council of Zambia’s receipt of the letter from Cavendish University Zambia dated 17 September 2018, informing the council of the registration of the School of Medicine campus by the Higher Education authority.
“The Council would like to inform you that having met the above mentioned requirement, you are hereby granted approval to offer the Bachelor of Science in Clinical Sciences and Masters in Public Health degree programmes at the Longacres campus,” according to the letter.
New Era struggled yesterday to get comment from the Vice Chancellor and registrar of Cavendish University of Zambia, on when the students would resume classes. On several occasions that New Era called the university, the two were said to be in a meeting.
Namibia’s health ministry issued a press release in June stating that two universities in Zambia (Cavendish and Lusaka Apex Medical University) were banned from continuing to offer health related programmes for which 91 Namibian students are enrolled.
A delegation led by Masabane travelled to Zambia in June to assess the situation. On Monday, New Era spoke to affected Namibian students in Zambia who said that those studying with Lusaka Apex Medical University in Lusaka will resume their classes next week Monday (24 September).
“For the Cavendish students it’s even worse because they don’t know when they are starting and the university has not provided them with answers,” said one student.
The Lusaka Times reported in June that the HPCZ withdrew the approval of certificates for some health-related programs offered at Lusaka Apex Medical University and at Cavendish University.
The withdrawal was because of “serious violations” which were discovered at the last monitoring compliance conducted on October 17, 2017 after which Health Professions Council of Zambia wrote to the affected institutions to address the violations.
However, the last inspection conducted on May 21, 2018 still revealed serious violations than those discovered earlier.