“We are preparing for the clinical and technical training programme that is scheduled to commence soon,” Holder said.

For the purpose of continued training, the Ministry is inviting applications from persons interested in becoming, among other things, pharmacy and rehabilitation assistants, audiological practitioners, medical laboratory and x-ray technicians, community dental therapists and environmental health workers.

Holder explained that applications are still being processed after which the successful applicants will be informed on starting dates for the training.

In addition, the Health Sciences Education Director said the faculty is being put together and training facilities are being upgraded.

“The best applicants will be trained,” he said.

He noted that at the start of the training, successful applicants will be required to undertake a core course which will cover areas such as anatomy, physics, chemistry, information technology and management.

“The core course will help them become more rounded and then they will branch off to their different disciplines,” Holder said.

Apart from the current training programme, persons already qualified have avenues available to them to further qualify through post graduate programmes accredited by the University of Guyana.

Holder pointed out that there are several areas where those qualified can further their studies, since, in addition to the post graduate surgery and the orthopaedic programmes, there is the post graduate anaesthetic programme.

Instructions in the different disciplines for periods of 12, 18, 24 and 36 months, are free of cost, after which participants will be contracted to the Government.

Ramsarran had cited the importance of developing new skills which would support the new hospitals at Lethem, Mabaruma and Linden by ensuring they are adequately staffed.

“Now that the new facilities are adequately equipped, the trainees would boost the health sector, in addition to the returning doctors and medical interns stationed at the diagnostic centres across the country,” he had said.

The junior minister had observed that, in this manner, Guyana would be training specialists, a move that would see the recruiting of less expertise from overseas.