Locals get training to fix health equipment; immediate jobs guaranteed

Locals from all administrative regions will receive training to operate and fix medical equipment in hospitals and other health facilities across the country through a new programme launched on Friday.

The programme is being executed by the Ministries of Health and Public Service, alongside the United Kingdom-based Medical Aid International.

The first cohort will see 39 locals trained over a three to six-month period; the programme is virtual and self-paced.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony said this new programme is part of plans to guarantee that health services offered are uninterrupted. With more people trained and placed in health facilities, he believes that damaged or malfunctioning equipment would be fixed sooner.

More trained technicians, he said, are crucial with the government building more hospitals across the country.

And importantly, Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said all of the participants will be placed at hospitals so that they can practise on the equipment while they undergo training.

Immediate employment as biomedical technicians is also guaranteed when the participants complete the training.

“We are going to create this position and then all of you will be employed,” Dr. Ramsammy told the participants on Friday.

Once different batches are trained, it is also expected that Guyanese will be able to run the programme themselves, Dr. Ramsammy added.

Daniel Narsaiah, of the participants from Region Six (East Berbice- Corentyne), said this programme is much-needed in his region since there is currently just one technician providing these services to the hospitals in the region.

“The workforce is needed and I think I will be a very integral part of this,” Narsaiah told the News Room.