On Friday, thirty-five students from Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni) graduated from the Ministry of Health’s Community Healthcare Workers (CHW) Programme, offered by the Health Sciences Education Division.
The graduation ceremony took place at the Roger Hinds Hotel in Mahdia, a release from the ministry said.
This cohort of CHWs represents the first to undergo training in the region, as the Ministry strives to decentralise its training initiatives.
Now that they have graduated, these individuals are expected to return to their respective communities, the release said.
Speaking at the ceremony, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony, congratulated the students, noting that the thirty-five graduates represent twenty-three villages across Region Eight.
He further emphasised the significance of the training provided, noting the Ministry’s aim to ensure that at least 115 different interventions are available at levels one and two health facilities.
Anthony expressed satisfaction that the graduates were trained in first aid, heart disease, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and telehealth.
“At levels one and two, one of the things that we’ve decided in the ministry is that we must be able to offer at least 115 different interventions. This is important because if we want to make sure that people are getting access to care then these very basic interventions must be available to people in the various communities. I am very happy that with this batch of students, you were also able to include first aid, heart disease, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and telehealth,” he stated.
Anthony said that the region will have additional telemedicine sites by the end of this year.
Among those accompanying Minister Anthony were the Regional Chairman, Headly Pio.
