21 more health workers for Region One

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Twenty-one persons from across Barima-Waini are currently engaged in a six-month training programme which will qualify them to become Community Health Workers (CHW).

The training is as a result of a collaboration between the Ministry of Public Health and the Regional Democratic Council, Region One.

The training which commenced on Monday, October 22, follows the format of a similar programme in Region Nine, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo which graduated its first batch of trained CHWs in April 2018.

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings met with the prospective CHWs a few days after the training programme commenced and encouraged them to stay the course. She also told them to be prepared to return to their various communities and serve their fellow residents through health promotion and life-saving interventions.

“The healthcare worker’s role is pivotal in these vulnerable communities. As you are from this community the delivery of healthcare service will be optimised and culturally appropriate and will help the patients and community members to buy in the necessary treatment.”

Minister Cummings added that those being trained are significant to ensuring that the patient to healthcare provider ratio is further reduced.

“The Barima-Waini Region has not been doing so well as it relates to maternal and neonatal care hence this training which includes healthcare workers from the three sub-regions is commendable.”

The training of CHWs forms part of the Ministry of Public Health’s efforts to ensure there is a further reduction of maternal mortality rates emanating from indigenous communities.

Having trained CHWs in every Indigenous community is anticipated to be a more effective measure in these efforts. Individuals are identified from each village in a particular region to participate and benefit from the training. This initiative also ties in with the region’s health department’s goal of having at least two trained CHWs at all health posts throughout the region.

Speaking with the Department of Public Information (DPI), Regional Health Officer, Dr. Cerdel Mc Watt said that Region One has 47 health posts. At the end of this training, priority and consideration will be given to those facilities where employed CHWs are scheduled for promotion to midwifery training or are retiring.

Delicia Haynes.

Image by Region One Health Department.