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BuaNews (Tshwane)

South Africa: Kwazulu-Natal Youth Offered Health Bursaries

Siboniso Ntuli

6 August 2008

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Pietermaritzburg — The provincial Department of Health in KwaZulu-Natal has offered bursaries to students from poor backgrounds, who want to take up their studies in the health field.

The offer applies to students who have already completed their matric, currently in matric, or those enrolled in tertiary institutions studying towards health related qualifications.

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Neliswa Peggy Nkonyeni said the offer was available for students in KwaZulu-Natal who would, on completion of their studies, be willing to work in their own communities.

"Applicants will be required to provide proof of household income, which should not be more than R120 000 per annum."

MEC Nkonyeni said the department had sponsored 677 students from 11 districts in the province last year.

"It is our hope that we would be able to help young people from poor backgrounds to have access to tertiary education and to thereafter serve their communities," said MEC Nkonyeni.

According to the department, the bursary scheme was part of the department's endeavor to attract young people to healthcare services and to provide financial assistance to the thousands of young people who could not afford tertiary fees.

The department is making every effort to promote careers in health services with special emphasis on clinical engineering, radiography, medical orthodontics and prosthetics, emergency services, and dental therapy among others.

Application forms for bursaries are available at all health facilities or from the health district offices.

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