Over 100 youths trained in First Aid, Home Nursing

Put all that you have learnt and experienced into practice and become a great, organized, rational and humane health worker; and the right attitude will emerge and propel you to your dreams.”
This was the admonition of Chief Medical Officer Dr Shamdeo Persaud to more than 100 young graduates at the annual graduation exercise of the St John’s Association last week.
The simple ceremony, held at the St John’s Headquarters at Cowan Street, Kingston, saw 62 persons receiving certificates in First Aid and 42 in Home Nursing.

Speaking on behalf of Public Health Minister Volda Lawrence, Dr Persaud further encouraged the graduands to move on to nursing, then allied professions, then on to health administration and even medicine.
He advised the graduands to take time to understand science and technology; to learn to communicate well; to make people feel comfortable; to dress well, and to be clean and pleasant.
“Listen attentively, ask right questions, give feedback, and ensure clients understand what is going on,” he counselled the graduands.
He further admonished them to keep reading, and to always have a pleasant attitude; noting that repeated behaviours become attitude, and they should strive to have a great and positive attitude towards health.
Chairman of the St John’s Association of Guyana, Vibert Parvatan, in brief remarks, referred to the vision of the association’s new patron, His Excellency President David Granger, on expanding the activities of St John’s countrywide, to make First Aid be seen as an integral part of health care.
Every year, scores of young people who normally cannot gain access to start a career in nursing are trained at the St. John’s Headquarters in Cowan Street, Kingston in foundation courses of First Aid and Home Nursing; and from there they are accepted in public and private hospitals.
The St John’s organisation also offers First Aid services to the business community, and as such, the graduation is a manifestation of the organization achieving the goals it had set itself.
St John’s is an international charitable organization established in many countries around the world, and is well known for its work.