Nurses to get scholarship opportunities – International Nurses Week launched

[youtube url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9kGCDNKMHE?autoplay=1″ width=”560″ height=”315″]

DPI, Guyana, Monday, May 7, 2018

The government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Public Health, will be drafting a policy for nurses to access scholarships to further their studies. This was revealed by Minister of Public, Health Volda Lawrence during the observance of International Nurses Week.

The minister indicated the Nurses and Midwives Act, crafted in 1957, must be amended to allow for the creation of new policies catering to improved service provision by nurses.

“We are working on a scholarship for nurses, therefore, we want to design a policy that will go in tandem with the bill, that allows you to specialise. We are operating in a very old system, therefore we have to work with the Ministry of Public Service to ensure that we cater for studies both our doctors’ and our nurses.”

The minister noted that enabling nurses to function in specialised capacities speaks to the government’s commitment creating upward mobility within the nursing profession.

“As a result of policy decisions that we make and with you (nurses) as the executors, the general public now makes certain demands of you in your execution. They look upon you as nurses to take action and they believe that the responsibility lies with you to enable them to access our health system.”

Minister Lawrence also pledged to a new and improved nursing service.

Countries all across the world join in celebrating International Nurses week, May 6-12, under the theme, “Nurses A Voice to Lead – Health is a Human right” as chosen by the International Council of Nurses (ICN). In Guyana, the week will be observed in all ten administrative regions, as senior nurses who have contributed significantly to the profession will be recognised.

 

By: Delicia Haynes.