Latest update April 28th, 2026 12:30 AM
Strategic training for nurses to help improve EMS – Harmon
As part of government’s effort to improve emergency medical services, the Ministry of Public Health through the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is expected to offer strategic training for emergency medical nurses.
The training will arguably be the first of its type in the entire Caribbean.
At least this is according to Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon.
Harmon at yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing disclosed that while initially the emergency medical response service (EMS) was intended to cater to Region Four and along the coast where 80 per cent of the population reside, the improved emergency service is one intended to be expanded to the outlying areas.
The first phase, he disclosed, is slated to be operational by December and going onwards to 2020, the other phases will capture the entire country.
According to Harmon, Cabinet was briefed by a team comprising the Ministers of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, and Public Security, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, on improved emergency medical services and response to emergencies. A presentation, according to Harmon, was done by Dr. Zulfikar Bux, Head of Emergency Medicine at the GPHC.
Minister Harmon related that based on the plan proposed within the first year of its implementation, there is expected to be a reduction in the response time to medical emergencies.
This, he noted, would translate to a person being picked up and taken to an emergency medical facility within 15 minutes of an emergency report. But Harmon said that it is anticipated that over time the response time will be reduced.
The proposed improved emergency response service, according to Harmon, will basically build on the current arrangement which exists for the medical evacuation from the hinterland and riverain areas. According to him, “the plan envisages compilation of these assets into one medical response system that will benefit the Guyanese people by and large.”
The move towards improving the emergency medical service is seen as a requirement, since, according to Harmon, the existing service “is not really where it is supposed to be.” As such, he noted that the improved emergency services will essentially “piggy back on what is already there.”
Moreover, it is expected that by this year-end there will be an increased number of ambulances to improve the emergency service.
“I am not at liberty now to say what the numbers are, because these are still at the proposal stage, but because they have to do with the health of the nation, they will be added on to what is already in progress,” said Harmon.
In addition to more ambulances and training of emergency nurses, Harmon spoke of the inclusion of other facilities that will be provided in the ambulances, water taxis or aircraft that are involved in emergency response services.
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