THE Medex Training Programme is alive and well, Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran assured yesterday when he met the first batch of trainees in the replacement New Pathway Programme, at Campbellville Health Centre in Georgetown. He said New Pathway, also an undertaking of the Ministry, will facilitate persons without prior nursing experience and last for an extended 42 months, as compared to its predecessor, which had an 18 months duration, with the aim of increasing medical personnel at community health care facilities.

Addressing the participants in the new course, Ramsaran encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunity for professional progression by working diligently to achieve great things.
Alluding to rewards that can be garnered from earnest efforts and sacrifice, he mentioned the exemplary achievements of Dr. Salome Henry, who started as a community health worker, at Malali in Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice), but since graduated as a doctor from the University of Guyana (UG) Medical School.
Ramsaran said, despite being a single parent and coming from a riverine Amerindian community, Dr. Henry persevered and is deserving of recognition.
“With hard work, continued study and support from the Ministry of Health and Local Government, she was able to study,” he said, adding:“Salome Henry, who is one of our primary health care providers, has made us proud.”
Ramsaran told the trainees they are part and parcel of a bigger enterprise to repair the services offered at the health centres and to ensure that they are of the highest quality.
Care managers
He said the new programme will also seek to prepare them to fill the role as health care managers at health centres that would guarantee they always have skilled personnel.
The fist group of 29 trainees will be writing their final examinations in a matter of weeks, after which they will be dispatched to the various centres in the Regions and Ramsaran indicated that they would be doing their residency practice at Campbellville Health Centre in future.
Noting the newly renovated upstairs section of the building, where he was meeting them, he said that it will become a small niche for training, including for the Environmental Health Assistance Programme, as well, which were previously conducted at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
“This will allow you, the trainees, to have easier access to the centre and facilities to be able to familiarise yourselves with procedures and expectations and get a first hand glimpse of how health care providers bond with community members,” he explained.
Medexes are required to undergo part of their training at health centres in preparation for dispatch to various communities.
Alluding to the advantages of the new course, Ramsaran disclosed that the previous one was revised to address deficiencies as it allowed already integrated and experienced nurses to benefit from the training.
“In doing this, the Ministry of Health has responded to the production of good high school graduates from rural areas who wanted to be medexes. This allowed them to join the programme and be trained under the New Pathway Medex Training Course,” he stated.
Ramsaran also said the review was conducted by the Health Ministry with the assistance of a consultant from Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), to analyse the success of the revised programme and this will be discussed with the trainees.
He said the purpose of the revision was to ensure that the emerging medexes will be oriented as they enter the health care system and identify the shortcomings of the programme so that the new batch will benefit.
Ramsaran welcomed the trainees to their new facility in Campbellville Health Centre which is, currently, undergoing rehabilitation works to better serve the community and ensure that medexes are comfortable and centrally located.
Graphics Folder- K-ville health centre
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Caption- Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr.Bheri Ramsaran addresses the trainees of the New Pathway Medex Training Programme at the Campbellville Health Centre, along with Chief Medex, Baldeo James (right) and Administrative Assistant Cuba/Guyana Cooperative Health Matters, Nankishore Persaud.