12 graduate as Community Healthcare Workers

Aug 06, 2023 News

The graduating batch of new Community Healthcare Workers. (Photo courtesy, Ministry of Health)The graduating batch of new Community Healthcare Workers. (Photo courtesy, Ministry of Health)

Kaieteur News – Twelve Direct Observed Treatment (DOT) workers on Friday graduated as Community Healthcare Workers (CHW) after undergoing a six months training.

On Friday, the Ministry of Health’s Health Sciences Division, in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Department of the Ministry of Health hosted a graduation ceremony for a batch of twelve officers from Regions Three and Four who completed the course and graduated as CHW.

According to the ministry, the batch of DOT workers was chosen to be trained as CHWs since they were community-based and promoted health education in the various communities they serve.

Their training which commenced last November lasted for six months. Kaieteur News understands that the training included areas of First Aid, Vector Control, Environmental Health, Maternal & Child Health, Basic Anatomy and Physiology, and Elderly Health, among other areas of mutual interest.

The Health Ministry noted that with the addition of these CHWs, they will aid in the enhancement of providing quality health care within the areas they serve.

Speaking at the simple graduation ceremony, Manager of the National Tuberculosis Programme, Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall stated that statistics over the years have shown that Region Three is the second-highest region with Tuberculosis (TB) cases, while Region Four stands at number one.

“Region Three was about fourth in terms of TB cases, and Region 10 was the second highest. Region 4 is the highest-burden region because of population. 50% of our TB cases are from here (region 4). This did change over the years; however, region 10 was able to move from the second-highest burden region down to number four, and Region Three up to number two,” he explained.

Dr Mohanlall added that between January and June of this year, Region Three was able to obtain over 80% of successful treatment for TB cases, while Region Four was able to achieve 60%.

“With the last cohort of analysis from January to June last year, patients evaluated between January to June this year were actually in the top four regions with TB success rates. You work to come up to the top, region 3, in the top 4, achieving 80% and above treatment success. Region Four, moved from 70% and over during COVID, coming down to the 60s,” he related.

Among those present at the graduation ceremony on Friday were Direct Observed Treatment Short Course Coordinator, Dr. Neil Trotman, TB/HIV Coordinator, Dr. Quacy Grant and Health Education Officer, Ms. Petal Gordon.

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ceremony, Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall, Dr. Quacy Grant and Health Education Officer, Manager of the National Tuberculosis Programme, Ms. Petal Gordon

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