Work commences on modernised N/A Nursing School – Dr Singh

– construction also ongoing on brand-new hospital

The new Nursing School in New Amsterdam, which will play a critical role in ensuring a steady stream of nursing staff in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), is currently under construction, in addition to the work ongoing on a brand-new, world-class hospital to service the region.
This is according to the Senior Minister in the Office of the President, with responsibility for Finance Dr. Ashni Singh, when he recently addressed the Rose Hall Mayor and Town Council’s 54th Anniversary at the Lower Corentyne Secondary School.
“In New Amsterdam, we are constructing a brand-new, world-class hospital, where His Excellency the President turned the sod for a few months ago. And that hospital is already under construction.”

“Still in New Amsterdam, construction has just begun on a brand new, Nursing school which will be training young Berbicians, of course young Guyanese, but young Berbicians right here to become Nurses, right here in New Amsterdam,” Singh said.
Earlier this year, President Dr. Irfaan Ali announced that a new nursing school would be constructed in New Amsterdam. The facility will include a dormitory to allow individuals from other regions to attend the school and benefit from the training.
Back in February, the Head of State disclosed that the government is working on securing degree accreditation from the University of the West Indies (UWI) for the new nursing school in Berbice. Site preparations started a few months later and Regional Chairman David Armogan had said that the contract was awarded to a local company and subcontracted out to another foreign company.
Guyana has been faced with trained nurses leaving the system, and a majority migrating overseas in exchange for better opportunities. In some cases, recruiters have actively scooped up these healthcare professionals to work in their respective countries. As such, the government has had cause to complain about the migration of nurses and technical workers plaguing the health sector.
Last year, Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony had noted that most developing countries have been faced with the migration of nurses and skilled or technical workers within the healthcare system following the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The health sector right now, like many countries in the Caribbean and maybe most developing countries, is experiencing a great challenge with the migration of nurses and technical persons in the health sector moving to more developed countries,” Dr. Anthony had said.
Furthermore, Dr. Anthony had told a workshop organised in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), that it was more difficult to retain people within Guyana since developed countries were offering better salaries and incentives.
The government has plans to train 4000 nurses over a four-year period. In 2022, the government also took the step to raise the monthly wages of nurses, among other healthcare workers, to increase retention.
Nurse aides had their current minimum salary adjusted upwards from $80,892 to $100,000. This represented an additional 23.6 per cent increase in the minimum salary paid to each worker. Nursing assistants also had their minimum salary adjusted upwards from $88,525 to $115,000. This represented an additional 29.9 per cent increase on the current minimum salary paid to a nursing assistant.
Midwives’ salaries moved up from $96,974 to $169,438, representing an additional 74.7 per cent increase on their previous salary. Staff nurses had their minimum salary adjusted upwards from $111,628 to $169,438 – a 51.8 per cent increase. Staff nurses/midwives’ salaries moved from $127,963 to $195,000, a 52.4 per cent increase.
In the short term, to fill existing critical gaps in the system, it was announced last year that the government has turned to Cuba to assist with the shortage of nurses to fill capacities in the health system.
It had also been announced that these workers will undergo a three-month language programme, to effectively communicate with patients here. (G-3)