MoH preparing to launch 1st hybrid nursing programme

A team from the Coursera Platform is currently in Guyana to discuss and train personnel as the Health Ministry prepares to launch its first hybrid professional nursing programme.
On Wednesday, Health Minister Dr Frank Anthony met with a team from the Health Sciences Division of the Ministry of Health and the Coursera Platform. While engaging the first batch, Dr Anthony stressed the importance of generating and producing the content in a way that is accessible and enjoyable to study for students.
“I know we spend a lot of time talking around the issue or trying to explain the issue, but the modern way is to respect people’s time and get to the point, so to speak, and be able to communicate that in a way that people can understand. And if they want more information, go to the resource material that you have”, Dr Anthony said.
Minister Anthony further stated that if this platform is successful in delivering the Registered Nursing Programme, the Ministry would adapt to having all of itsprogrammes delivered on the same platform.
“You’ll be learning a lot as we go through this process. But what you learn here, we’ll transfer to our other programmes in the Ministry’s Training Division. We probably have about 18 different programmes, and if we master this, you will be the core people who can help us put all those other programmes on there,” Dr Anthony stated.
The MOH has recently posted advertisements on its social media platforms inviting applicants to pursue their dream of becoming a nurse.
As Government invests in building the infrastructure for the health sector, emphasis is also being placed on upskilling human resources. The aim is to complement the seven regional hospitals that are being constructed in various parts of the country, as well as the Maternal and Paediatric Hospital that is being constructed at Ogle, East Coast Demerara.
The Health Minister had previously said that training of over 3000 nursing specialists would match the infrastructural development in the sector.
The Government plans to build regional hospitals in Anna Regina, Region Two; De Kinderen, Region Three; Bath, Region Five; Number 75 Village, Region Six; and at Diamond and Enmore in Region Four, to increase access to quality healthcare. There will also be one in Bartica, Region Seven.
During the COVID pandemic, the Education Ministry had partnered with Coursera to upskill the workforce. This marked Coursera’s first institutional partnership in the Region, and is part of a long-term commitment to help citizens prepare for a digital future by 4000 free online courses on the Coursera platform in various areas: such as Art, Business, Computer Science, Health, Social Science and Engineering.