Training critical in medical field – Minister Lawrence

…27 graduated Audiology and Rehabilitation Programmes

During a joint graduation ceremony hosted in honour of the completion of yet another cycle of the Audiology and Rehabilitation Training Programmes in Guyana, the Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence commended the continuous

efforts aimed at increasing the capacity of local medical practitioners while emphasising the importance of training in the health sector.

Lawrence noted that the various training projects aided in the vision of the Public Health Ministry, which includes enhancing patient care and improving the delivery of primary healthcare throughout the 10 Administrative Regions of the country.

This, she continued, will take Guyana one step closer to joining the rest of the world in achieving the international health mission set out by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

While addressing the gathering, the Public Health Minister conveyed, “Training in every component of the medical field is critical to the quality of service and care we provide for our citizens.”

As such, Lawrence pointed out the importance of the individual programmes while underlining the accomplishments of the Ministry as it relates to the respective fields.

The Programmes, which commenced in 2015 and lasted two years, allowed for professional teaching within the areas of audiology and rehabilitation, equipping the new graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills to significantly contribute to the delivery of quality health services.

Graduating from the Audiology Programme were 10 students hailing from Regions One, Two, Five, Six and 10, while an additional 17 made it to the finish line following the completion of the rehabilitation course. They hailed from Regions One, Two, Three, Four, Six, Nine and 10.

Commenting on the audiology course, Minister Lawrence indicated that noteworthy progress has been recorded ever since the inception of the Programme 10 years ago. She pointed out that the department began with one central clinic in the Georgetown Public Hospital and two satellite clinics in Regions Six and 10 respectively, but has since embarked on setting up two new satellite clinics in Mahaicony. This is projected to be completed by September 2017 while another project will materialise in Port Mourant by early 2018, providing places of attachment for the graduating students.

“I am extremely delighted that the Ministry of Public Health is receiving another batch of trained and professional public health workers in the key areas of Audiology and Rehabilitation,” expressed Lawrence.

With that, the Minister urged the graduating students to take advantage of the knowledge gained through the experience and called on them to actively participate in the growth of the medical industry. “Sustainability in all aspects of the health sector must be supported at all costs, and we are depending on you, our young professionals to make good things happen in health.”

On that note, the Minister thanked both the students and facilitators of the two Training Programmes and encouraged the young professionals to consider service to their country as a part of their professional pursuits.