– over 3000 applied for technical and clinical programmes
GOVERNMENT has, over the years, been responding to the many needs of the citizenry, one of which is the availability and accessibility of quality health care. This field has benefited from huge sums spent on the construction of hospitals, health centres and huts, and state-of-the-art equipment and medication, all of which would be irrelevant without the presence of skilled manpower.
And so in 2009, the Ministry of Health’s Training Division embarked on a new initiative, outside of its nursing programme: the Clinical and Technical Training Programme  which covers areas such as X-ray technicians, rehabilitation assistants, audiology practitioners, dentex, community dental therapists, environmental health and community health workers, medex and pharmacists.
In advancing this drive, 117 professional nurses, 63 nursing assistants, 31 medical laboratory technicians, 24 pharmacy assistants and 27 environmental health assistants were Monday oriented into their respective areas of study at the National Cultural Centre. The trainees were selected out of the 3000 submitted applications for the various programmes.  The large number of applicants indicates the growing interest in the training programmes.
The professional nursing programme will last for 36 months, nursing assistants 18 months, and the others 12 months.  Some of the subjects the trainees will be exposed to are the human body and diseases, medical terminology, communication, health promotion,  food and safety, sociology, English language, mathematics, care for the elderly and children, mental health, haematology, cytology and, microbiology. Applicants will also benefit from practical sessions.
In an effort to accommodate those applicants who were not selected, the ministry is considering taking in another batch in mid 2012, Minister in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Bheri Ramsaran indicated.
While addressing the gathering of new trainees and their parents and lecturers, Dr. Ramsaran noted that in the past, few nurses were able to receive training; however, since 2006, there has been an explosion in the number of people who pursue nursing and other medical training.
This upsurge is aligned with the many investments made in the health sector, which have resulted in the construction, expansion and rehabilitation of hospitals, health centres and huts around the country, which cannot be operational on their own, but require the presence of skilled care givers.
Dr. Ramsaran highlighted that the construction of the proposed specialty hospital is fast becoming a reality, with the approval of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India for the release of funding. He added that land preparation has already commenced for this project.
With regard to the growing technological thrust, the trainees will be exposed to ICT training while pursuing their medical programmes. Dr. Ramsaran also indicated that the Georgetown Nursing School was renovated, and the 2012 budget contains funding for the procurement of equipment and learning materials to improve the learning environment.
Director, Health Sciences Education, Noel Holder recognised that the programmes are not easy ones; nevertheless, the trainees must be dedicated to their studies. In this regard, he called on them to practise self-study, and added that the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) has been instrumental in assisting with  the establishment of a virtual library that will allow access to medical materials, including books.
Holder acknowledged that the training programmes are in line with the medical programmes offered at the University of Guyana, hence there is scope for progression in the medical field.
Nurses are stationed at the Georgetown, New Amsterdam and the Charles Rosa Schools of Nursing, where they undergo training to become staff nurses, nursing assistants, nurse aides and patient care assistants.
Other programmes for nursing training include the post-basic programme for graduate nurses, who may want to become ward sisters, the health visitors’ programme, and the single-trained midwifery programme. The University of Guyana offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, and an online Master’s programme. A Post Graduate programme in anaesthetic nursing was introduced as well.