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Restore nursing to its former glory – Health Minister urges Nursing Council
Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence
“I think it is important that we restore our nursing to its former glory,” said Minister of Public Health, Ms. Volda Lawrence, who is convinced that the recently installed General Nursing Council can be a pivotal element in helping to realise this vision.
According to the Minister, “We are in the 21st century, so we need to revolutionise our thinking to what pertains now in our society.” As such the Minister has called on the newly installed members to “breathe new life” into the Council.
“Take what is there and believe that is the way we have to continue to operate, make suggestions…perhaps we need to make some changes to the laws and regulations so that we can be able to move to that next level that all of us want to see us moving towards,” said the Minister.
As she called on the new Council to work towards enhancing nursing education, the Public Health Minister said, “I want you to not only hold meetings and make decisions, but I believe in the Chinese proverb that says ‘what I see I believe’. It is not always what you hear you know, because we hear all sorts of things, but what you see, come out as a Council [and] go into the environment where the nurses are and see how they are complying with the rules and regulations, but more so what inhibits them from doing so in their environment,” the Minister urged.
The Minister underscored that while it may be a simple task for someone to order that a list of duties be done, “if they don’t give you the tools to do it and you don’t have the means, then that is another issue.”
“I want us to be fair in our judgement and I don’t want us to sit in a room and make decisions without investigating and knowing what is actually happening on the ground,” said Minister Lawrence.
The Public Health Minister envisages a public health sector that matches what obtains internationally. As such she called on the Council members to “ensure that we lift our nursing to reach international requirements…you will be tasked as watchdogs for nursing education standards.”
She continued, “We all can be whatever professionals we want to be, but are we adhering to the standards? That is what will set us apart. Everybody is saying the nurses know what they are supposed to do, but are there protocols at the various centres that help them, that guide them?” the Minister questioned.
“In my profession I have no alternatives; I have to work within those standards and so I want to say to you that in the nursing profession we must be able to ensure that we can raise those standards,” said the Minister, an accounting professional.
“When I am not sure I can go to Google and Google a standard in the accounting profession, but can our nurses do that? Is there somewhere in their working environment where they can go to and look at what is outlined there; what the protocols are for them to follow?” Minister Lawrence asked.
Meanwhile, the Minister in her deliberations shared her thoughts on health delivery access in remote hinterland regions.
“When I speak of the hinterland I get a little perked up, because some people believe that Guyana is on the coastland and that in the hinterland they don’t need these types of services, and I want to say to you that is not the mantra of the Ministry of Public Health,” Minister Lawrence asserted.
Moreover, she underscored that the aim of her Ministry is to ensure that there is access to health across the country. The Minister also stressed the importance of equity as she revealed that on too many occasions those in the hinterland are left out.
“In many instances information is not being shared with them and I want them on par with what is happening on the coast, so that we don’t have to have persons from the coast going to the hinterland,” said the Public Health Minister. She added, “We believe that our brothers and sisters in the hinterland are capable of becoming good nurses, and so I want you to remember that when we talk about training, professional development, and raising the standards in the health care system.”
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