By Shirley Thomas

NINETEEN nurses of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) yesterday graduated after having successfully completed a period of training in Paediatric Emergency Skills under a collaborative arrangement between the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The programme, conducted at the GPHC over the last month, was delivered by Ms. Yoshida Sum KO, a Nurse Educator and senior volunteer from Japan, and was designed to equip health care providers with the knowledge and skills required for coping with paediatric emergency situations.

Among the areas covered were: Team Dynamics, Advanced Airway Management, Infant and Child Resuscitation, and Cardiac Rhythm Recognition.

Chairperson of the programme, Ms. Marcia Singh, Registered Nurse within the Pediatric Unit, introduced Ms. Yoshida and mentioned that her qualifications included a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing; a Masters Degree in Public Health Management, and a Masters Degree in Health Sciences.

“Her unwavering dedication to nursing is truly inspirational, and she is indeed a role model,” Ms Singh declared.

Ms. Yoshida thanked management of the GPHC for having her conduct the training for the nurses here, and expressed appreciation to the nurses for their interest shown, as expressed in the time and dedication they showed to the learning process, particularly since the course required a 100 per cent attendance in order to graduate.

Noting that the training entailed both theoretical and practical aspects, Ms. Yoshida added that the practical component has certainly boosted the nurses’ competency, and will ultimately make them more confident in delivering the requisite health care.

Director of Nursing Services, Matron Corry, on behalf of Nursing Services and on behalf of the GPHC, expressed gratitude to the Japanese International Co-operation Agency for giving Ms. Yoshida, a Japanese volunteer, the opportunity to come and share with the GPHC; and for supporting her throughout.

Matron Corry noted that the training programme was indeed a great moment for the GPHC. She recalled that Ms. Yoshida had come to Guyana last year and had worked within the Paediatric Unit, had responded positively to a request for her to return, and that has seen the materialization of the Paediatric Emergency Skills Course 2013 for the Guyanese nurses.

Matron Corry considered it both a joy and privilege to have had Ms Yoshida teach the training course. She credited the success of the training course to Ms Yoshida’s dedication to the work she is doing and the positive influence she has had on the local nurses.

Additionally, she said, Ms Yoshida has done work in improving the appearance of the Paediatric Unit, making it more child-friendly. “And for all these things, we want to extend our gratitude to JICA, and to the Coordinator of JICA, who is with her,” Matron Corry concluded.

Chief Executive Officer of the GPHC, Mr. Michael Khan, expressed gratitude to both the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Ms. Yoshida for making the training possible. The training he said, was provided at no cost to the GPHC or the Government of Guyana.

Moreover, the CEO acknowledged Ms. Yoshida’s instrumentality in sourcing more than US$90,000 in equipment for the GPHC Paediatric Unit.

Mr. Khan also congratulated the graduating nurses, and had words of advice for them, in terms of not only applying the recently acquired skills and knowledge, but also in exercising sound judgment in making decisions that would affect the efficiency and credibility of the units within which they work, and the institution as a whole.

CAPTION: Saved in Graphics as ’19 graduate’

SAM 1644/1645/ or 1646: Posing with graduating nurses: At front and centre is Japanese Volunteer Ms. Yoshida SUM KO, flanked by Matron Audrey Corry and Sister Noshella Lalckecharran. Standing at rear right is GPHC CEO, Mr. Michael Khan.
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