Latest update April 7th, 2025 6:08 AM
Region Seven nurse is Health Worker of the Year
Health Worker of the Year Corina Williams receives her accolade from CMO Dr Shamdeo Persaud
By Sharmain Cornette
The ability to maintain a high level of commitment to the expanded programme of immunisation, maternal care and safe motherhood strategies has resulted in Corina Williams, a Registered Nurse/Midwife from Region Seven, being awarded the 2009 Health Worker of the Year.
The honour was bestowed on Ms. Williams yesterday by Chief Medical Officer, Dr Shamdeo Persaud, when the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Department of the Ministry of Health commenced a three-day workshop at the Regency Suites, Hadfield Street, Georgetown. Visibly elated and overwhelmed with the news of her achievement, Williams further stated her commitment to continue taking up the challenge to ensure that the Region’s Maternal and Child Health Programme remains a success story. She also charged her colleagues to commit to facing the challenges associated with improving Maternal and Child Health.
Last year it was also a hinterland health worker, Stephen Fredericks, who was stationed at the Nappi Health Post in Region Nine, who received the coveted accolade. According to MCH Director, Dr Janice Woolford, it was based on the reports of her colleagues in the Region that saw Williams being identified as the most eligible recipient for the award.
Nurse Terry Davis (at right) receives an award for Region Six from Minister Leslie Ramsammy
And it was a surprise, according to Dr Woolford, that Region Seven was also identified as the Region that had performed the best during the past year, in terms of the expanded immunisation programme. As such, the Region became eligible for the PAHO Award which was handed over to Medex Lester Valentine by PAHO/WHO Representative, Dr Kathleen Israel. Valentine said that the award came as a great token to the region.
Region Seven was selected for the award following a visit by Dr. Woolford there last year.
“I was very impressed when I went to Kamarang in December and Medex was there with all of his vaccines to ensure that every village got vaccinated. He was leading by example. He wasn’t just sending out people to do the work. I hope that the rest of the regions could follow his lead.”
Region Six was duly awarded for being the region that had the overall best performance in the area of immunisation. Senior Health Visitor, Terry Davis, accepted the award from Health Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy and pointed out that the region faced no small challenge during the past year. Nonetheless, she is hopeful that the region will stay on the successful course this year.
Meanwhile, it was Region Five that was awarded for maintaining good surveillance. The region also shared the honour of maintaining high immunisation coverage of over 90 percent last year with Regions Seven, Six, Five, Three, and Two. However, although region one had done an outstanding job last year it was not awarded due to the late submission of its report, Dr Woolford revealed.
She further asserted that the challenge faced by the health sector is to ensure that every mother and child count. “Every time a mother goes into labour she must come out with a healthy baby and she should be healthy at the end too.”
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