Guyana 1st in C’bean to introduce University Degree in respiratory care

Guyana is now the only country in the region offering a Bachelor of Science Degree in Respiratory Care (BSRC) at the University of Guyana (UG).
Currently, no other Caribbean Members State offers a degree programme that equips students with the expertise and requisite knowledge to diagnose and treat breathing issues and lung disorders.

The programme to be administered by UG stemmed from a holistic collaboration between the tertiary institution, the Health Ministry, and the Georgetown Public Hospital Cooperation (GPHC).
It was developed in 11 months with the primary aim of expanding Guyana’s academic offerings and strengthening competencies in clinical healthcare skills, respiratory therapy, and technology and instrumentation, among others.
Further, the Bachelor of Science Degree in Respiratory Care (BSRC) programme gives students a foundation in cardiopulmonary care and prepares them for careers as respiratory therapists providing patient care in hospitals, pediatric clinics, extended care facilities, sleep labs, and more.
During the launch at Herdmanston Lodge on Wednesday, Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Paloma Mohamed-Martin disclosed that Guyana is willing to spearhead similar programmes in Caribbean countries seeking to acquire the skill.
“Guyana which poses one of the largest natural lungs of the world is also adding to the academic medical field by being the only country in the region for the moment that has a degree like this. It is wonderful and I think it’s important because I’ve seen many people…. and young children struggling to breathe and you can’t help them…. And I think we are going to give this to the region because we don’t take our gifts for ourselves, we give and we share. So, you will share with everybody else in other countries who are close to us and need this work.”
On the other hand, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony shared that the BSRC programme will boost Guyana’s capability to manage and grapple with the effects of pandemics that COVID 19 which is a serious threat to the respiratory system.
With this in mind, he urged UG to ensure that Guyanese students from the ten administrative regions are engaged when recruitment for the programme commences.
“So, I think having recognised all these challenges during COVID and how ill-prepared we were, this then became a natural thing to do. We just needed to get a course like this so that we could train more professionals and have them in the system. And so, I think that’s one of the reasons why this was expedited. So, we need to recruit people maybe in a very deliberate way. Get people from different regions, at least in the first batch so that when they graduate, they will be able to serve in their respective region.”
Some 54 individuals in the medical field have already signaled interest in joining the programme.
Dr. Anthony explained that these persons and others who will join programme will play a crucial role in supporting the Government’s efforts to provide world-class healthcare service at the regional hospitals being constructed.
“Why that is also important is that we, right now, we have a deficit in the existing hospital but by the end of this year, we’re expecting to bring six new regional hospitals on stream. Latest by the first quarter of next year, they’ll all be operational. And therefore, at each of these hospitals, we have facilities where we need people in these types of specialty.” (Trichell Sobers)