Healthcare in hinterland more accessible
─ Unity Square residents hear
─ training provided by the ministry
─ 44 hinterland youths accepted into Allied Health Professional training, 21 from Region 1
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, October 19, 2019
Healthcare Services are becoming more accessible in the hinterland regions. Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence noted this while engaging residents of Unity Square in Region 1 today.
The Public Health Minister updated the residents on the strides made thus far in the public health sector under the Coalition administration.
She explained that her ministry has been given a mandate of ensuring that health services, on the coast and in the hinterland, are of the same standard and quality. To this end, she highlighted a recent move by the Public Health Ministry to train young men and women as ‘Allied Health Professionals’.
According to Minister Lawrence, just a week ago, the Ministry of Public Health through its Division of Health Sciences, launched five allied training programmes – namely Audiological Practitioners, Pharmacy Assistants, Medical Laboratory Technicians, Environmental Health Assistants and X-Ray Technicians – to which 147 persons were accepted. It has been noted that of this number, 44 of these persons are from the hinterland, more specifically, 21 of these are from the Barima-Waini Region.
Unity Square residents were apprised of what this means for the region.
“At the end of their training, they will return to the region and their villages. They will then be employed at the various health facilities… When you go to the health centre in another year or so you will be able to have your blood test done, you can have an ECG done… you will have Pharmacy Assistants in the region supporting the work of the Pharmacist putting together medication for you and those persons will be from your region,” the minister explained.
Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence along with some of the residents of Unity Square after the community meeting held at the area’s primary school.
It was pointed out that while the ministry is training potential staff, it is also working with the health department of each hinterland region to ensure that the necessary facilities are in place to ensure the proper delivery of the service.
Minister Lawrence stressed that there has been a tremendous emphasis by the Public Health Ministry towards training young persons from Indigenous villages. These persons are expected to return to their villages upon qualification to serve their communities. She further noted that the ministry has waived the qualification requirement for hinterlands applicants for health programmes, as the ministry is looking for able and willing persons to support the growing sector to provide quality, equitable healthcare to all persons in Guyana.
“When we talk about equality as a government, we don’t only talk it but we do it, we make it happen,” Minister Lawrence stated.