— Qualitest Training Institute on quest to empower Caribbean women

A WOMAN in the 60s was a very different woman to one of today. There was a period where societal construct confined a woman to a simple housewife, whose lone responsibility was to take care of the household, her spouse and children.

Traditionally, the role of women in society has been greatly overlooked, but, today, that role is being viewed from a different perspective. However, in these contemporary times, women are empowered and emboldened to take revolutionary action that drives change within our society, starting with a few institutions.

One such institution that must be highlighted is Qualitest Training Institute. This institution is one of the businesses operated by QualiTEST Incorporated headed by Yvette Irving, Chief Executive Officer and Medical Scientist.

The institution’s Patron is Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin – Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana.
The institute offers programmes in phlebotomy technician, medical lab assistant, medical assistant, medical administrative assistant and patient care technician.

Its student population consists of 95 per cent women and majority of that percentage are career working mothers trying to improve their social status through education in the Allied Health across the Caribbean.

Ivring, who holds a post graduate certificate focused in Laboratory Quality Management from Michener Institute in Canada, noted that women are the foundation of a home and when they are educated a nation becomes educated.

“If you educate a woman, you are educating a nation because women are the faculty of the home and most of their kids will look up to them as a role model.”

Women have the power to impart knowledge and inspire generations to come.
“If you educate a woman, she becomes independent and she becomes a role model for her daughters and even her sons,” said Irving.

Speaking on the institution’s success rate, Irving said, “It has been very good, for the entire year we may have four students doing supplement. These students work very hard and some of them have high-school-aged children.”

Recently, the institution had its inaugural graduation ceremony, which saw 38 students in attendance; however, 90 students would have been trained. Some of these students were from other Caribbean countries such as Dominica, Antigua and St Vincent.
Most graduates are employed in the private sector and a few in the public sector.

It must be noted that the institution’s programmes are recognised by the American Medical Technologists certification body and students write that body’s examination to be certified.

In 2022, students will have access to the Canadian Phlebotomy Technicians certification examinations.
The institution is the brain child of Irving, who noted that she started the initiative to promote allied health care across the Caribbean.