Hugo Chavez Centre, The Palms to receive capacity boost

GINA, GUYANA, Monday, May 15, 2017

Fifty (5o) females and one male are undergoing training under the Patient Care Assistant Training Programme. This is the eleventh batch of trainees of the programme.

The participants were selected from Regions Three, Four and Five to undergo the six- month training.

At the formal launch of the programme which is in its seventh week, Chairperson of the GPHC Board, Kesaundra Alves read the Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence’s charge. Alves said that that as Patient Care Assistants; they will provide direct and or indirect care which includes medical assessment, treatment, counselling and psychological assistance.

Alves said in the Minister’s charge that this training is of significant importance to the Division of Health Sciences, Ministry of Public Health and the health facilities to which the students will be assigned.  She said that, “the need for trained Patient Care Assistants has therefore become imperative and it is to this end that this training programme has been implemented to fill the existing gaps as quickly as possible.”

Alves said that the students who will be sent to the Hugo Chavez Centre for Rehabilitation and Reintegration, will have to interact with indigent persons who have no fixed place of abode, the less fortunate and homeless who may be in need of medical assessment and treatment, counselling and psychological assistance to enable them to become disciplined and productive members of society.

She further explained to the students that at the Palms Geriatric Home they will be providing care for the elderly who need more careful

attention as they advance in age. However, some patients may demand more care depending on the condition of their health, to assist with daily living activities, observing and charting changes in their health or behaviour, and helping with hygiene and cleanliness.

Alves noted that some patients may demand more care due to their health conditions and urged that kindness always be extended. “There may be instances when you may be called to perform extra duties; do not make it an issue, but respond with compassion; your intervention may just be the response that eases the patients’ state of mind,” Alves said.

Alves said that, the Minister of Public Health would like to  remind the students that their patients come first, that they are critical to providing high quality care with desirable outcomes, and that there must be a comprehensive approach to effective patient care service.

Further Alves noted that Minister Lawrence would like to encourage the students to always continue to learn and keep abreast with the new techniques and technologies that will improve the quality of patient care.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the GPHC, Allan Johnson, in his encouragement to the students urged them to revise constantly and excel in their training.  Johnson said that for a majority of the students that are in the course, “this is a second chance” and he hoped that they would make use of the second chance that has been granted to them. Johnson told the students that, “they will be successful in their training” which will help improve the health sector.

Programme Coordinator, Doneth Mingo said that the programme was designed to prepare Patient Care Assistants to perform basic nursing skills under the supervision of a professional nurse.  She said that there is space in the world of nursing for nurses who are less qualified and need less training.

The Government Information Agency spoke with some of the students who

are being trained. Sherry Ann Toney-Cort said, “I have been working at the Palms for 10 years and I have now been given the opportunity to be trained in what I love doing. I am very thankful to God for this opportunity. Thus far the programme has been wonderful and very informative.”

Marcus Fraser stated, “Thus far I have enjoyed the programme, I have some important lessons such as testing vitals and most of all being confidential when it comes to the patient, which is very important.”

Osvena Chung said, “I have been working at the Palms for six years and I am hoping that this programme will help me improve my work ethics and show us what we are missing when caring for patients.”

Colene Deonarine stated that, “I have been working at the Palms for six years and I hope that this training will teach me how to deal with mentally ill patients because we have a lot to deal with. Caring for these persons is something that I like very much and I want to improve myself when caring of them.”

 

By: Gabreila Patram