MORE skills have been added to the local health sector following the recent graduation of 91 trainees from clinical and technical programmes conducted by the Ministry of Health.

The graduates included 12 Public Health Nurses; 20 Environmental Health Assistants; 20 Pharmacy Assistants; 28 Medical Laboratory Technicians and 10 Dentexes.
Health Minister Dr. Bheri Ramsaran delivered the feature address and commended the graduates and tutors for persevering to the end under less-than- ideal conditions. Additionally, he gave the assurance that improved conditions are on the way: the Georgetown School of Nursing—at the centre of controversy in recent times—will soon have its library upgraded to a virtual library with the installation of computers and hot spot. Further,the school’s resource centre will be expanded  and so will the classrooms to alleviate the cramped conditions. Further, improved conditions are in the pipeline for the New Amsterdam School of Nursing also and consideration is being given to increasing stipends for trainees.
The minister referred to the expansion and construction of health facilities across the country and informed the new practitioners that not only will the traditional health-care providers-doctors and nurses – be needed to staff the new and expanded facilities, but an appropriate skills mix is required as well.
Speaking directly  to the Public Health Nurses,Minister Ramsaran  told them that  they will be in the vanguard of the battle against Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases.  As such, they should not confine themselves to the health centres when they return to their respective communities,but  they should reach out and become involved in the schools,clubs,etc. Noting that people almost invariably depend on health- care providers to keep them in good health,he urged them to impress upon their clients that their health is their individual responsibility.
Giving the charge to the graduates was Director (ag) of the Division of Health Sciences Education,Wilton Benn,who congratulated them,but  advised them that their journey  has only just begun. It is a journey that will be fraught with challenges,he warned,and therefore  cautioned them  against entertaining  unrealistic expectations. Finally,Benn called on  them to develop a culture of continuous learning and to avoid thinking that they are the fount of knowledge.