Health Ministry’s training put back to October month-end

The Ministry of Health’s $700M training schedule had been upset because of the fire that destroyed the Ministry’s headquarters, but the training programmes will continue.

This was the assurance given by Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy, at a press briefing on Saturday.

“We had a delay, yes, but the training will continue,” he said.

At the press briefing, he also stated that not only will the training programmes continue, but they will be expanded.

For the purpose of continued training and development of human resources, the Ministry invited applications from persons interested in becoming, among other things, pharmacy and rehabilitation assistants, audiological practitioners, medical laboratory and x-ray technicians, community dental therapists and environmental health workers.

According to the Minister, these programmes were scheduled to begin in September but will now begin in the last week of October.

Ramsammy also said that part of the midwifery training programme will begin in the last week of November while the other will start in January.

Additionally, he explained that the commencement of training programmes for nursing will be pushed back to February 2010.

“All the applications were destroyed in the fire so we are currently taking in applications,” he said.

The deadline for these applications is October 30, and it is hoped that approximately 500 nurses will be trained.

Ramsammy acknowledged that there was work to be done on the building that facilitates the tutoring sessions.

The building needs to be upgraded as there is an increase in the student intake and the way teaching is done presently calls for a more contemporary facility.

As to the question of inadequate tutors for the nursing programme, Ramsammy said this was not an issue.

“We do not have a shortage in tutors,” the Minister said firmly.

He pointed out the ‘concerns’ raised about inadequacies of the programme come from some persons who are resistant to an increase in the size of the classes.

“Yes, there are legitimate complaints, but I remain unconvinced that we can’t resolve this,” Ramsammy said.

The Minister explained that innovative measures can be put in place to address the challenges that face the nursing programme.

According to the Minister, Guyana to date has approximately 1,500 nurses.