234 persons get First Aid and Home Care training
“serve with dignity and respect” – Public Health minister urges graduates
─ graduates encouraged to draft career in Public Health sector
DPI, Guyana, Sunday, June 30, 2019
The health sector will soon be boosted following the graduation of 234 young persons in the areas of First Aid – CPR and Home Nursing.
A graduation ceremony was held for the students who received training within the past year at the St. John’s Association commonly referred to as the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade. Among the graduates were four lone males.
Each course runs for a period of three to four months with different class schedules available to meet all who are interested in joining and completing any of the programmes.
Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence recognised the graduates as trained volunteers who crucially support healthcare in Guyana and encouraged each of them to make their facilitators proud.
Minister Lawrence gives a prize to one of the best graduating students.
“It is refreshing that we can witness an association of such longstanding giving quality service through training without money being the motivational factor and I say bravo to you… This certification will afford you the opportunity to be of service to others which I exhort you to render with dignity and respect.”
The minister was the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony and was pleased to observe that the group was comprised largely of young energetic persons ready and willing to serve. In her address, she spoke to the graduates not only as the Public Health Minister but as a citizen of Guyana who recognizes the critical importance and contribution of the training they have received to the country.
Minister Lawrence added that training in the area of First Aid – CPR, which is often overlooked, remains the key to first-hand lifesaving interventions in emergency cases, especially at accidents.
“I will be requesting of them [St. John’s Association] to partner with the Ministry of Public Health to have us do television programmes so we can teach our people, nationally, basic CPR.”
The health minister also lauded the training provided in the area of Home Nursing, stressing her particular interest in care for the elderly.
“I am very committed to the care of our elderly who are our priority so we laud this programme which will provide solid and sustainable outcomes for our senior citizens who deserves our best.”
She also charged the graduates to think strategically about their future since this graduation is the stepping stone to making an impact on healthcare and saving peoples’ lives.
“I wish you to consider your career path and future. This is the first fundamental step of your accomplishment but do not stop here, you have the unique opportunity to craft an excellent career in health so examine your options, select your area of interest and develop your potential in the health sector.”
Also attending the graduation ceremony were volunteers in the association, Chairman of the Association, Vibert Parvattan and former Chairman, (ret’d) Major General Norman McLean.
St. John’s Association Guyana is a vibrant, humanitarian, voluntary organisation providing quality first aid training, first aid services and health care to communities, seeking at all times to promote health awareness and safety practices.
Students of the First Aid – CPR batch demonstrates what they have learnt.
It is a non-profit organisation supporting health care in Guyana and contributing to the general development of all people. The next training cycle is expected to commence in August of 2019. Persons interested in any of the programmes can visit the Association’s headquarters in Cowan Street Kingston, Georgetown to find out more.
Images: Karime Peters