Better salaries for health professionals – Anthony

…as $881M Suddie Nursing School offers specialised training

The $881 million Suddie Nursing School under construction in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) is set to transform the healthcare landscape, with specialised training programmes that aim to provide advanced skills to nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals, while also promising significantly better salaries and career opportunities for graduates.
The campus is part of a larger initiative being undertaken by the Guyana Government to tackle critical healthcare workforce shortages, particularly in specialised fields, including midwifery care, laboratory sciences and medex as well as X-ray technicians training.
Delivering the feature address on Friday at the graduation ceremony for 100 students from the Public Hospital Suddie Training Centre, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony disclosed that with modern facilities, advanced simulation labs, and access to experienced faculty, the school is designed to equip its students with the skills needed to excel in the most demanding areas of healthcare.

“Not so long ago, you didn’t have as much doctors as you have now on the Coast [Essequibo Coast]. You didn’t have as much nurses you have now on the Coast, there were just a few people required to do all of the functions being done right now… But we have been adding staff almost on a yearly basis to make sure that we can function at a different level.”
“The mandate of the President [Dr Irfaan Ali] is that he would like to see a world-class healthcare system, but if we are going to build a world-class healthcare system. It would mean that in every region we have to develop the right facility and get the right people trained so they can deliver,” the Minister said.
Graduates of the Suddie Nursing School will be eligible for highly competitive salaries, reflecting the advanced skill sets they will acquire. The focus on specialised care aims to fill gaps in these high-demand areas.
According to Dr Anthony, since assuming office in August 2020, nurses and other healthcare professionals have benefitted from major salary increases, making health sciences an attractive option for those pursuing a career in healthcare.
“I see people when they graduate their starting salary is probably a $105,000 or $120,000. When I came back and start working as a medical doctor in the system, my salary then was a $120,000… We have come a long way, we have increased salaries, we are making sure that other facilities people get will make them want to stay and work in the system,”
“When we look at neighbouring countries now, we are gradually becoming on par with them and in some cases, we are going to exceed what they are offering for different categories of people,” he added.
Sod for the $881 million nursing school and training complex being constructed by Rupan Ramotar Construction was turned in January of this year.
The school’s emphasis on hands-on, real-world training ensures that students will gain practical experience that directly translates to better patient outcomes. The programmes are also designed to foster a culture of collaboration among healthcare professionals, encouraging teamwork and interdisciplinary learning. (G1)