Forde slams Govt. move to import nurses

Aug 02, 2023 News

…says locals are being underpaid

Kaieteur News – Shadow Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Roysdale Forde has called out the Government of Guyana for its failure to improve working condition of local health care providers but is ready to import foreign nurses to fill the shortage in the system.

Shadow Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Roysdale Forde

During his last press conference, President Irfaan Ali had disclosed the government’s intention to engage with Cuba to have nurses there help fill the void here. President Ali had highlighted that one of the main issues facing the Caribbean region right now is the outward movement of nurses and health workers. As such, he noted that there was an engagement in order to get Cuban nurses to come into Guyana’s healthcare system. In response to this move by the government, Forde said: “it is settled knowledge, that the health of a nation rides high on the human resources of its healthcare system. Guyana has been spending multibillions of dollars of taxpayers money to train nurses, for decades yet, the President admitted that we are facing a woeful shortage of nurses and other technical health staff.”

He added that according to reports, the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) is working with below its required strength of nurses. Forde said that the health institution is in need of about 500 nurses and that at the national level there is a shortage of over 1200 nurses. Forde noted that the approach by government to address this extremely worrying shortage could only lead to a further diminished number of nurses causing a diminution of that important sector of our society. Forde highlighted that nurses play a significant role in national public health care listing the following ways:

(I) National primary healthcare delivery: nurses are often the first point of contact for patients seeking healthcare services. They are trained to provide comprehensive care, including preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services. They play a vital role in delivering primary healthcare services in remote and underserved areas, where doctors and specialists may be scarce.

(ii) Health awareness and education: nurses are well positioned to educate individuals and communities on preventive measures such as personal hygiene, nutrition, immunization, and family planning. Through their skills, they empower individuals to take responsibility for their own health and prevent the spread of diseases.

(iii) Disease prevention and control: well- trained nurses contribute to the surveillance, prevention, and control of diseases in local communities. They are trained to recognise public health threats, record and report infection diseases, and put in place effective infection control measures. This helps prevent outbreaks and ensures the timely and efficient management of potential health crises.

(iv) Maternal and child healthcare: nurses work to promote safe childbirth, delivering prenatal and postnatal care, and assisting new mothers. They assist with the well-being of both mothers and babies by carefully observing their health, administering vaccinations, and providing guidance on early childhood development.

(v) No-communicable disease management: in developing countries, like Guyana, challenges and problems associated with of non- communicable, such as diabetes and hypertension, are steadily increasing. Trained nurses do work as primary healthcare providers in managing these conditions, educating patients on self- management techniques, and facilitating access to appropriate healthcare resources.

(vi) Collaborative care: nurses often work closely with doctors, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals and technical staff to promote comprehensive patient care. Their contributions in multi- disciplinary teams help improve health outcomes and increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery systems in resources- limited settings. Forde said the government has always been aware of the challenges to the national healthcare system. He added that the significance and effects of the migration of health workers have been carefully studied by Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO).

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Attorney Genera, import, Minister of Legal Affairs, Nurses, Roysdale Forde

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