Region 4 personnel to get increased medical training – RHO

As the Regional Democratic Council’s Regional Health Department forges ahead with an aggressive plan for 2018, the Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Quincy Jones has promised that there would be an increase in training opportunities for medical personnel within the Region.

Dr Jones said that this was part of the RDC’s vision of further strengthening and improving the effectiveness of medical personnel working at the various health centres throughout Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), thus ensuring that patients seeking various services could be effectively treated.
“Since assuming the office of Regional Health Officer, it has been part of my overall vision and mandate to increase training, as with improved and increased training, then there will certainly be an overall improvement in the health care that is given to the general public,” he said.
Dr Jones noted that a number of persons continue to seek medical attention at the two premier public hospitals – Georgetown Public Hospital and Diamond hospital – noting that in many circumstances the services they sought were offered by their respective health centres.
“You have situations whereby persons go to either GPHC or Diamond hospital for services that they could have received at their health centres and as such, they are forced to wait for long hours because of the immense pressures on the medical personnel at these two hospitals. However, we are seeking to bring our medical personnel at the various health centres up to par and to ensure that they are trained effectively in a number of areas and ways, thus ensuring that they can render some of the services that they [members of the public] are seeking elsewhere,” he said.
However, REO Pauline Lucas, in commending Dr Jones for his aggressive plan, said quality and enhanced health care would certainly help in boosting the productivity level of all. He further noted that once patients and residents could access improved health care holistically, the country’s human resources would improve. He added that this could only be possible with the appropriate training of medical personnel.
Dr Jones reassured the public that persons seeking services at the various health centres in Region Four could be assured of sustained development and improved results, adding that he continued to meet with all levels of medical personnel operating at the health centres.
“It’s no secret that the general public has concerns over the health-care services that they receive from the Government-run institutions, thus resulting in some seeking private services,  but I want to assure all that we within the region with the  RDC’s support are working towards holistic development,” he declared.
REO Lucas, in commenting on the many training opportunities that would be made available to staff with the Regional Health Department, urged those benefiting to be dedicated, committed and, most importantly, disciplined. He said that they must be cognisant of value for money via demonstration of the skills and knowledge that they would gain from all the training programmes.
“As the REO, I have and will continue to stress the importance of equal opportunities and to say that my office will continue to support the programmes and mandate of the Regional Health Officer as he continues to enhance and further develop our health sector,” she said.
Dr Jones said that while they have already completed several training programmes thus far for the year, there were quite a number of additional training programmes that would be implemented. He also noted that another four doctors have been added to the Region’s health personnel.