The sod was turned yesterday for an $881m nursing school at Suddie in Region Two.
The Ministry of Health says it has recognized that there is a need for in-person training in Region Two, among other regions, and according to Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, “We are building a modern nursing school on this site, we came and identified the place and we are now here to turn the sod.”
Anthony and officials of Region Two were on hand to turn the sod for the construction of the new multi-million-dollar training centre at Suddie.
In Region Two, 92 persons are currently enrolled in various training programmes in the health field. “Once you are trained we will employ you, and apart from decentralizing, we have some hybrid programmes,” Dr. Anthony said. He urged persons who will start their studies at the school to continue to pursue higher education after completion of their courses. Speaking to the gathering, Anthony said that over $300m was spent within a three-year period for the region’s health centres’ infrastructural improvement. This included a digital X-ray machine for the Suddie Public Hospital. “The time has come for a new hospital on the coast,” Anthony said, “… and by the end of this year, you will have a brand new regional hospital.”
Describing the improvements as “a transformation of the health landscape in the country”, Anthony said that the Ministry of Health is investing a lot of resources to improve the health services within the region.
“We want to ensure that in every Region the service can improve and people can have access,” Anthony said. He added that in the past there was a struggle to decentralize training but the training division has accomplished this goal in different regions. Region Two’s Chairperson, Vilma Da Silva said that the day is historic for the region. She said that it will provide employment opportunities for young people in the region and will significantly boost the health services in the region.
Meanwhile, Regional Health Officer Dr. Ranjeev Singh said that the building will complement the existing health services and will provide training opportunities for hundreds of young people. He also said that newly trained persons will benefit the new Lima Regional Hospital currently under construction. Anthony was accompanied by Director-General of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo.
The edifice will be built by Region Two contractor Rupan Ramotar.
