91 students graduate from St. John’s Ambulance Brigade

Jun 20, 2016 News

At a simple ceremony held last Saturday at the St. John’s Association Guyana, 91 students of the institution graduated from General First Aid, CPR and Home Nursing classes. Both friends and relatives attended the ceremony to celebrate with the now certified individuals.
Delivering the Charge to the students was Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton, who said he has great admiration for the emphasis the St. John’s Association places on lifelong learning and the development of leadership skills.
He added that these are qualities which will impact positively on the Guyanese society, specifically in the area of health care delivery.
Dr. Norton remarked that the students are fortunate to be graduating from an institution which would have trained them very well. The Health Minister told the students that like the song they would have sung prior to his presentation “We are the World”, they are indeed the world; children of the world.
Recognizing that the graduates could not have acted alone, Minister Norton congratulated the efforts of the parents and guardians of the students.
Norton in his closing remarks, committed to having the subvention which is allocated to the Association in the national budget, be significantly increased.

The Graduating Class from The St. John’s Ambulance Brigade (Seated Center: From Left, Minister of Public Health Dr. George Norton; Chairman of the St. John’s Association Mr. Vibert Parvatan; Mr. Vincent Alexander and Dr. Holly Alexander)

Speaking with Kaieteur News, Chairman of the St. John’s Association Mr. Vibert Parvatan, said that aside from the 91 graduates at the ceremony, the association also facilitates training for persons at the request of their employers.
Parvatan noted that there is a greater awareness of the importance of first aid in Guyana. According to the chairman, employers have to comply with health regulations.
He noted that for the graduates, the programme is their first step along the path to a career in nursing, adding that many former students have become medical specialists and doctors.
The chairman stated that the values of the organization are centred on Christian values and it encourages love and peace. He noted that treating the sick also requires qualities of patience, love, tolerance and sympathy for the suffering.
According to Parvatan, the major challenge which the Association faces centres on financing. He said that the fees which the students pay cannot keep the entity afloat. However, this deficit is subsidized by the charges made to commercial entities and donations by companies and private individuals. He specifically thanked Dr. Jose DaSilva who he said contributes greatly to the well-being of the association.
Parvatan added that the Brigade has divisions in Linden and Berbice and it is the focus of the Association to revive all the Brigades in the country.
In the coming week, the Association will be hosting a week of activities. June 24, 2016 will be St. John the Baptist Day. Throughout the week, there will be an outreach programme. Graduates will be visiting homes for the elderly, such as the Palms, Dharm Shala, Archer’s Home, Uncle Eddie’s Homestead and the Gentle Women’s Relief Association.
The group will also visit the City Mall on Camp Street to provide services to customers. Persons will benefit from blood pressure, blood pulse rate and sugar levels tests.

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