Largest intake!
─147 persons being trained in various allied health professions
─ Ministry of Public Health launches Clinical and Technical training programmes
DPI, Guyana, Monday, October 14, 2019
One-hundred-and-forty-seven (147) young men and women from the ten administrative regions across the country have been accepted to commence training in five allied health professions.
According to Health Education Officer of the Ministry of Public Health, Kim Fraser-Bristol, this is the largest intake since the ministry introduced clinical and technical training programmes in 2007.
This batch of allied health professionals includes 43 Pharmacy Assistants, 30 Environment Health Assistants, 40 Medical Laboratory Technicians, 22 Medical x-ray Technicians and 12 Audiological practitioners. Of the overall total of trainees, 44 were drawn from the hinterland; Regions 1, 7, 8 and 9.
Fraser-Bristol, who is the coordinator for three of the five training programmes, expressed her satisfaction with the number of hinterland trainees and what this holds for the future of the Public Health Sector.
“We have had a large number of applications, and the persons [selected] would have gone through the interview process and passed. It is the largest intake of our hinterland students because the ministry is focused on having persons trained so that they can return their regions and serve,” she explained.
All of the programmes commenced on October 14 and will run for varying periods; with the longest-running being the Medical Laboratory Technician at 18 months. The other programmes will run for periods of 12 and 15-month periods.
Minister of Public Health, Hon. Volda Lawrence said the government is pleased to initiate such a training opportunity for young persons as it demonstrates every effort made to address the human resources gap in the public health sector.
She also emphasised that this is an important aspect to the Ministry of Public Health reaching its overarching objective – to ensure everyone have access to all levels of health care services. Also, upon completion of training, these persons will become critical to the delivery of health care.
“One of our dreams is to fulfil that goal that persons residing in Guyana will be among the healthiest not only in the Caribbean but in the Americas… Without the services you will be providing the doctors, the nurses, the consultants, cannot provide the services they do; you are important to the health sector.”
In her remarks, the minister also encouraged the trainees to pursue upgrades in the careers as there are many opportunities available in the sector.
“Regard yourself as part of this health family, you are an important element in this family… the opportunities in this sector are wide… work to ensure the system benefits from you.”
While she was happy at the high intake recorded, the Health Minister called on more young people to take advantage of the training opportunities available in the health sector. Noting that professionals in the audiological field are required in all regions.
The hinterland students, and other students residing outside of Region 4 currently engaged in the training programmes are being housed in Georgetown where provision has been by the ministry for their well-being. This will see a house mother and four cooks being employed for the duration of the programmes.