Home Affairs Minister Robeson Benn has announced that Emergency Medical Services will soon be extended to Regions Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and Five (Mahaica-Berbice).
The Minister was at the time addressing Guyana Fire Service ranks who recently completed the first stage of an Advanced Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Training. Eight ranks were trained, according to the Fire Service.
During his brief remarks, the Minister implored the ranks to be agents of change in society.
“Be an agent of change with the aim of handing over a peaceful and better life to the next generation,” he said.
He further thanked the facilitators for hosting the training exercise and stated that training is necessary to pass on the skills and expertise required by first responders.
The ranks that were trained in advanced Emergency Medical Services
The exercise was held at the Project Dawn facility and was conducted by Dr Shannon Langston, MD and Andrea Fletcher, EMT-P, RN of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Tennessee.
Over the next four months, the trainees will be engaged in Zoom sessions and other practical sessions before completing the course and becoming certified.
In addition, Chief Fire Officer (Ag), Gregory Wickham pleaded with the trainees to use the knowledge gained to improve the Emergency Medical Services and better serve the citizens of Guyana.
In July last year, Health Minister, Dr Frank Anthony said good EMS can save many lives. At the time he was giving his address at the commissioning of the fire station and ambulance service at Melanie on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD).
The Health Minister also said the goal is to replicate the emergency medical services countrywide.
“…if we take a lot of time in expanding this service and that is what we want to ensure that we do not lose any more opportunity in terms of saving lives”, he had said.
The Minister also revealed that the EMS headquarters would be established in the compound of the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention at Liliendaal.
In 2019, 50 Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) were certified as Pre-Hospital Trauma and Life support (PHTLS) providers by the Vanderbilt Medical Center.
The training activity was organised by the office of the Guyana Emergency Medical Services in collaboration with the Guyana Fire Service.
The team of visiting instructors had coordinated the intense training for the local EMTs over a period of four days at the East Coast Demerara Project Dawn facility. (G9)
