Nurses to benefit from $1.5m programme

The Government plans to spend $1.5 million to continue the district health visiting programme for nurses in the academic year 2012/2013. The programme aims to help them function like community health nurses.
Minister of Tertiary Education Fazal Karim made the announcement at yesterday’s post-Cabinet news conference. “The course is completed in one academic year, two semesters where participants to the district health programme are registered nurses, who are experienced midwives and upon completion, the practitioner would be able to deliver quality healthcare in a variety of settings to individuals clients, families and communities,” he said.

He said it would include instruction in the prevention of diseases and the promotion of health through immunisation, mental and child health programmes, health education, home-based care and the establishment of new programmes. He said the ministry notes that there continues to be an inadequate number of district health nurses available to work at healthcare institutions in T&T. Karim said training for the nurses at the University of the West Indies is expected to move to the Nursing Academy in El Dorado.