The Ministry of Health’s Training Division has selected 262 persons from 3,000 to undergo training in its Clinical and Technical Training Programme.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, 117 professional nurses, 63 nursing assistants, 31 medical laboratory technicians, 24 pharmacy assistants and 27 environmental health assistants were on Monday oriented into their respective areas of study.
The Clinical and Technical Training Programme, which is outside of the nursing programme, offers training in professions such as X-ray technician, rehabilitation assistant, audiology practitioner, dentex, community dental therapist, environmental and community health worker, medex and pharmacist.
The professional nursing programme will last for 36 months, the nursing assistants programme will last for 18 months and the others will last for 12 months, GINA said. The trainees will be tutored in subjects including the human body and diseases, medical terminology, communication, health promo-tion, food and safety, sociology, English Language, Mathematics, care for the elderly and children, mental health, haematology, cytology and microbiology.
In keeping with the growing technological thrust, the students will be exposed to ICT training while pursuing their medical programmes. They will also participate in practical sessions.
In order to accommodate applicants who were not selected, the ministry is considering taking in another batch of students mid-2012, Minister within the Ministry of Health Dr Bheri Ramsaran said. In his address to the gathering of trainees, their parents and lecturers, Ramsaran noted that since 2006 there has been a huge influx in the number of persons interested in pursuing nursing careers and other medical training.
Director, Health Sciences Education, Noel Holder noted that the programmes are not easy and trainees would need to apply themselves and be dedicated to their studies. In this regard, he called on them to practice private studying, while adding that the Pan American Health Organisation has been instrumental in aiding the establishment of a virtual library that will allow access to medical materials, including books.
Holder also said that the programme is in line with the medical programmes offered at the University of Guyana so that graduates can progress in the medical field.
