1st batch of PCAs in Region 10 completes 6-month training

The first batch of 54 Patient Care Assistants (PCAs) for Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) recently graduated following a six-month training exercise which saw a 100 per cent pass rate. The ceremony was held at the Watooka Complex, Mackenzie, where the graduates and other health professionals were awarded for their successful performances.

Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence congratulated the graduates, noting that she was extremely proud as she alluded to the achievement of one hundred per cent pass rate.
“I am anticipating the boost that you would give to your community…because I know that your deployment will be right here among your very own people…I want to take assurance from that, that people of Region 10 can look forward, with anticipation and confidence, to a higher level of care. I want to also believe that the other levels of professionals whom you will work with can look forward, with anticipation, to pass on to you, if you are humble enough, their knowledge and their experience so that your Region can be a better Region on the health scale” Minister Lawrence stated.
The Minister also urged the graduates to look deeper into the meaning of care, noting that it also encompasses empathy, sympathy, understanding, sensitivity and much more.
She further cautioned them to remain humble and show commitment and to continue to elevate to higher levels.
“You are now part of the Public Health Sector, where the operative and motivational words are, ‘delivery of healthcare services of the highest quality to all people’”, the Minister noted as she urged the graduates to treat all patients with the highest level of respect. She further urged that they bring humility, patience and professionalism to their work environment as they have a pivotal role to play.
The Minister further urged the graduating team to utilise their skills to the best of their ability, lead by example, and to be motivating factor. She also complimented six of the graduating PCAs who hailed from Kwakwani.
Programme Coordinator Donette Mingo, in her report, said the objective was not only to train persons to be gainfully employed, but to improve their self-esteem, hence, improvement in their living standards.
She said it bridges the gap between qualified nursing personnel and patients in providing quality nursing care and maintain positive impact on the Health Sector.
Mingo noted that while the challenges were many, general improvement was noted with great satisfaction yielding 100 per cent pass rates. The scores, she noted, ranged from 89 per cent to 53 per cent overall with 12 students gaining 90 per cent in practical and 8 students gaining 85 per cent in theory.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC) Dr Farouk Riyasat in his remarks urged the graduates to continue to research and upgrade themselves and reminded them to always follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for nursing practices.
In a charge to the graduates, Dr Mandy LaFleur challenged them to perform their duties in a professional manner and to always uplift the code of ethics— both in and out of the working environment. She also urged them to be agents of positive change and to be innovative in enhancing their place of work.
Dr LaFleur further urged that they develop and maintain an inquisitive mind so that new knowledge can be generated, as well as to rise to the challenge of continuous inquiry and higher academic excellence.
A number of PCAs were awarded for their outstanding performances in various categories. Almanta Thompson was named valedictorian.