Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Symbiotic EMT training programme concludes
Guyana’s emergency responders are better equipped to execute their duties following the completion of a five-day training programme in collaboration with a US-based institute.
(Seated, right to left) Dr. Zulfikar Bux, Head of the A&E Services at the GPHC, Dan Batsie of the Atlantic EMS Group and EMT with the GPHC Ron Morrison with several participants following the conclusion of the programme
For about 7 years, the Atlantic EMS Group has been partnering with Guyana to provide training services to local health care providers. Two years ago, the relationship with the group was rekindled by the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). So far, the relationship has been reaping benefits.
One of these benefits is the recently concluded training programme. During a brief ceremony yesterday held at the Project Dawn Health Center, Dr. Zulfikar Bux, Head of the A&E Services at the GPHC, said that the hospital has reached the level where it is sustaining emergency health care by itself. Nonetheless, he said, the GPHC was looking at developing other systems and initiatives like the training programme. These, he said, would go a far way in assisting Guyana.
“The programme was very successful,” Dr. Bux said. He went on, “This training was basically to prepare staff in cases where there is massive trauma and massive casualties and they can actually go to the scene and relieve the hospital of the burden because there are some people that don’t need to go to the hospital and can actually be treated on scene.”
He said too that the 80 participants were paramedics and nurses from the Georgetown Hospital and nurses from the West Demerara Regional Hospital.
He further explained that the overseas based institution would not be the only ones travelling. According to Dr. Bux, the institution has been facilitating exchanges so that local paramedics can go to the US to have an idea of how a developed system works. These paramedics also receive additional training and in turn return home to incorporate their new found knowledge into Guyana’s system.
“This is going to continue because we’ve discussed this with them and we have the blessing of the GPHC and the support of the system,” Bux added.
The programme saw the participation of 8 persons from the Atlantic EMS Group. Six of these persons were paramedic students.
One of the leaders of the group, Dan Batsie, explained that Guyana was not the only beneficiary of the training programme. Rather, he said, the training was symbiotic and saw the Atlantic EMS Group also benefiting tremendously.
“We brought 6 of our paramedic students who had the unique and wonderful opportunity to spend time in your ambulances and hospitals, learning a different world of pre-hospital medicine than what we’re used to and that’s a tremendous benefit to their education. So thank you very much for allowing us here,” Batsie said.
He explained that his group is primarily a training organisation and focuses on paramedics, EMTs and hospital personnel like nurses and physicians.
He further said that the week was spent on continuing education and included classes on trauma care, emergency nursing and disaster medicine.
Dr. Bux added, “Obviously this is a symbiotic relationship and we’re both benefiting but I look at it as though we’re benefiting more because the training you provide will definitely go a long way in assisting us to provide better care, not just in the hospital but pre-hospital. And we realize that emergency medicine is not just about taking care of patients in the hospital.” He added that the hospital must ensure that parents are taken care of wherever they are, “so whether it’s in the interior, on the road in an accident, or they’re having a heart attack, we need to take care of those guys, stabilize them, give them proper care and bring them to the hospital.”
Similarly, Chief Executive Officer of GPHC Michael Khan expressed hope that the knowledge imparted in the 5 days will be used not only for personal growth but also that of the healthcare system in Guyana.
He further shared that plans are in the works to expand the EMS system and create new headquarters at the Project Dawn Health Center in Liliendaal.
According to Dr. Bux, plans are underway to develop a national ambulance authority in Guyana. He also noted that while training was paramount, the issue of limited funds and few trained persons in Guyana remain as deterrents.
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