GPHC staff complete first antigen test training

−second training underway

Thirty staff members from the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) have completed training on how to administer the COVID-19 antigen test. 

Minister of Health, Hon. Dr. Frank Anthony said the one-day exercise was done with a live demonstration of the antigen test. But equally important is that it signals that the institution has started using the test. 

“That training went very well; it’s about three or four hours that they were there and apart from the theoretical aspect, they went through some of the more practical things using the actual test so that they can familiarise themselves with the use of the kits. So, they have completed that and we have been able to give the Georgetown hospital a number of kits so that they would be deploying that in their facility.” 

The second round of training began on Wednesday. Minister Anthony has also indicated this round would be a Train-the-Trainer session for potential instructors for the hinterland regions. 

“We are training a group of people who would be trainers, and they would go back to their respective regions and then train other persons in that region. Today we have another 20 to 30 persons who would be undergoing such training.” 

The Ministry of Health will be rolling out the use of antigen testing this week at all health institutions. The test was initially intended for selective regions. However, Minister Anthony noted that because of its quicker detection of the COVID-19 virus, it would be used to determine a patient’s status to allow for immediate isolation or other care.