Malawian students studying at the International University of Africa had a priviledge of interacting with Dr Rajab Sawasawa Nkakosya who was in Sudan to attend a medical conference that was organised by African Medical Students Association (AMSA) at the university.
Speaking to the students after the conference, Dr Mkakosya lamented the low numbers of qualified Muslims in Malawi and encouraged the students studying in Sudan to be dedicated in their studies despite the numerous challenges that they are facing in their endeavors.
Dr Mkakosya who studied medicine in Turkey told the Malawian students that the challenges that they are facing are not unique to them only but is universal due to exposures to different cultures, weather, food, among others.
He expressed his happiness at seeing the number of students studying in Sudan increasing every year and said that this will translate into a high number of qualified Muslims in Malawi.
He further asked the students not only to rely on lessons spooned to them by the lecturers but that they should be resourceful and conduct their own research into various fields of their study.
Responding to Dr Mkakosya’s speech, Noordeen Majaja, representing Malawi Students Union, Ambren Salim and Cassim Banda representing Malawi Medical Students Association, thanked Dr Mkakosya for sparing his time to meet the students. They said that the meeting was not only encouraging but inspiring as well and that they will try their best to work hard in their studies.
The leaders however expressed concern that financial challenges are impeding in their efforts, like lack of adequate books, medical students are not able to carry out any research assignments and medical treatment when some students fall ill is not adequate due to financial constraints. They therefore requested Dr Mkakosya to relay their grievances to relevant authorities at the Islamic Zakaat Fund (IZF) for consideration.
The students further requested IZF to make sure that before they send any more students to Sudan, they should first of all be vaccinated against Hepatitis B since the Sudanese government is expelling any student who gets diagnosed with the viral disease.
Dr Mkakosya who is a lecturer at Malawi College of Medicine attended the conference at the auspices of Malawi Medical Students Association at the International University of Africa. There are currently 141 Malawians studying in Sudan and are sponsored by Islamic Zakaat Fund in collaboration with the University.
