29 Reg 9 youths to be trained as pharmacy assistants

The Health Ministry on Saturday launched its training programme for pharmacy assistants in Lethem, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) where the first batch of 29 persons will be trained to enhance healthcare delivery in their communities.
This nine-month training is being offered through the Ministry’s Health Services Division.
Delivering remarks at the launch, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthonny encouraged this first batch of trainees to work hard and seek a career or pathway within the health sector, assuring them that upon completion, employment within the Ministry is guaranteed.
He added that soon a training-of-trainers workshop will be held to enhance the capacity of ultrasound technicians.

Meanwhile, Regional Health Officer, Dr Cerdel McWatt disclosed that very soon, the region will be launching a medical laboratory technician and community healthcare worker training programme.
Healthcare provision in Region Nine has been steadily improving, with the Lethem Regional Hospital being recommissioned in 2021.
This hospital’s retrofitting falls under the “Smart Healthcare Facilities in the Caribbean” project that is being funded by the United Kingdom’s (UK) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and implemented by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO).
Once the hospital completes its upgrades, Dr Anthony explained, a computerised tomography (CT) scan machine will be established at the facility.
“When we upgrade the new hospital here in Lethem, one of the new pieces of equipment you will have is the CT scan, and this is going to be connected via the internet. So, when we take the image here if you don’t have a radiologist to read the scans, it will be able to be read real-time at Georgetown Public Hospital,” Anthony said.
Among those present at the launch were Hinterland Coordinator Michael Gouveia; Director of Primary Health Care Services, Dr Ertenisa Hamilton; Coordinator of Pharmacy Assistant Programme, Sunil Singh; Regional Chairman Bryan Allocock; and Health Education Officers, Kim Fraser-Bristol and Himwatie Persaud.
During this Region Nine visit, Dr Anthony also conducted a number of site inspections and walk-throughs of several health facilities including those in Quatata Village and Nappi Village.
Accompanied by Dr McWatt, Dr Hamilton, Gouveia, Singh, Allicock and other officials, the Health Minister ensured the village centres were up to the standards set out by the Ministry and that the services provided met the demands of the residents.
He also visited the construction site within Lethem that is set to hold a training centre and administration dormitory, as well as the Lethem Hospital’s Infectious Disease Building and Healthcare Facility that is being used to conduct training sessions for the nursing and pharmacy assistant training programmes.