A total of 38 Guyanese men and women have successfully completed the first installment of the Biomedical Technicians Training Course.
These persons have each received a City of Guild Certificate, which enables them to provide much needed biomedical support within the public health sector.
The graduation ceremony for this batch was held at the Pegasus Corporate Suites, Georgetown, on Friday evening.
Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, who delivered the feature remarks, said that the programme saw its origin during the COVID-19 pandemic, when members of the UK diaspora expressed a keen interest in boosting capacity in Guyana’s health sector.
He said that this area of biomedical technology is a sorely underserved field in Guyana, and often, technicians would have to be brought here to lend their skills.
According to the health minister, this first batch has set the pace for a new era of healthcare development, where Guyana builds the in-house capacity to sustain new and advanced pieces of equipment.
“The way that we are developing right now, you will have a lot of opportunities. Very soon we will have in at least 10 locations, CT scans, and MRIs in at least two locations. This is the direction we are going in, and of course we will need people to help us make sure these equipment are functioning,” the health minister noted.
Additionally, Minister Anthony pointed out that the initiative allows for the expansion of healthcare in the various regions, since in the past it was difficult to dispatch technicians from Georgetown to the regions to undertake maintenance of equipment.
“Right now we depend a lot on experts from Cuba, and other countries to help us, but we must be able to develop our own set of people here in Guyana capable of doing all of this. You have a long and very fruitful career with the Ministry of Health,” he said.
He encouraged the graduates to further their education in this field, emphasising that the government remains a willing partner in creating opportunities for further education and training.
Advisor to the Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy congratulated the newly minted Biomedical Technicians, saying that they will form a vital element of the health sector’s transformation.
The programme is funded by the government and is provided by Medical Aid International, a UK-based healthcare solutions.
It represents the government’s unwavering dedication to building out a world class health sector, while building the human capacity to sustain it.
Training and Development recently conducted two in-house training programmes (Induction & Orientation and Heath & Wellness at Work) for staff of the National Data Management Authority.
The Induction and Orientation Training programme educates new entrants into the Public Service of their rights and general rules and regulations.
Health and Wellness at Work teaches the importance of managing our mental health in the workplace.
The Hon. Sonia Parag, Minister of Public Service and staff of the Ministry stand in full support of Guyana’s territorial integrity, and send love and best wishes to our military men and women who stand resolutely at our borders.
The Ministry of Public Service, Training and Development successfully completed its first Batch of Asset Management Training Programme. 28 participants completed this training.
The Ministry of Public Service, Training and Development successfully completed Customer Service Training where 29 participants completed the programme
The Ministry of Public Service Training Division commenced its first Regional Training for 2023 in Bush Lot, Region 5. Twenty-four enthusiastic Public Servants completed the 4-day Customer Relations Programme from the 24th – 27th of January 2023. The training aimed at advancing the responsiveness and sensitivity of the Customer Service provided enhancing the Customer Experience through the display of both Professionalism and Ethics.
(Geogetown, Guyana – March 10, 2022) Over the past few days, Minister of Public Service, Sonia Parag has been conducting scholarship outreaches in various parts of the country. On Wednesday, she journeyed with her team to Region One (Barima-Waini), where she led a series of outreaches at Port Kaituma and Mabaruma, respectively.
Minister Parag encouraged residents to take full advantage of the government’s landmark 20,000 online scholarships initiative, being administered via the Guyana Online Academy of Learning (GOAL), which is headed by Professor Jacob Opadeyi, former Chancellor of the University of Guyana.
Last year, when the programme was first introduced, a total of 6000 persons were awarded scholarships and have since begun their studies in various fields. From Region One alone, 240 applications were submitted for GOAL 2021. Of that amount, 238 persons received scholarships and are currently studying at universities in India, Germany and the wider Caribbean region.
The initiative offers Guyanese from all walks of life the opportunity to study online and to be able to earn qualifications ranging from certificates, all the way to PhDs. “…and you don’t have to take a cent out of your pocket for it,” minister Parag emphasised.
She clarified that although constant connectivity is an issue in some areas, it should not be a deterrent to those who want to apply, since this would not have any major implications on a person’s studies. “We understand the challenges and we are working to eliminate those challenges for you, but in the meantime, all you need is some internet to download the teaching materials to study, and then connectivity again to upload your work. You don’t always have to be online,” Minister Parag explained.
She also highlighted government’s continued efforts to establish even more Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hubs across the country. As a matter of fact, minister Parag disclosed that soon, the Port Kaituma Secondary School will be equipped with a state-of-the-art computer laboratory, which would ensure that more persons in the region are technologically savvy.
Based on questions from potential candidates, minister Parag dispelled misconceptions that persons are required to “payback” the government for the scholarships. “You are not bonded to us,” minister Parag said. She noted, however, that persons will be asked to provide some form of community service for a period ranging from one week to no more than three months.
Persons such as policeman, Emmanuel Rogers are eager to take on courses that will bring career development. “I’ve been following the GOAL programme for quite some time now, and it is something that I welcome. I think it’s very important for persons to take the scholarship programme seriously…it is very smart that the government could recognise the importance of an educated population, and that is why persons should come out and apply, like I am doing today,” Rogers encouraged.
Among his three choice options, the 30-year-old has signed up for courses in criminology and victimology, as well as a diploma in creative writing. “I have always had a love for reading and writing,” he added.
Policeman, Emmanuel Rogers is a proud applicant of GOAL 2022First time applicant, ‘Mr. Vincent’ has taken an interest in garment constructionMinister of Public Service Sonia Parag assists one of the many applicants at Port KaitumaMinister of Public Service, Sonia Parag
Meanwhile, minister Parag was keen on reminding the potential applicants that GOAL is also facilitating a myriad of technical courses, stemming from garment construction and event planning, to massage therapy and decorations, all of which require no formal qualifications.
As a matter of fact, the recently appointed Regional Education Officer of Region One, Chiveon Dovell-Success, was one of the first persons to complete the course in garment construction. “I did the programme last year. Now, I can make my own clothes, like the outfit you see me wear here,” the REdO said in her remarks to encourage persons to get registered and begin their GOAL journey. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I would encourage anybody to take it,” Mrs. Dovell-Success noted.
The 20,000 online scholarships initiative is the brainchild of the Dr. Irfaan Ali-led People’s Progressive Party/Civic government, which continues to invest heavily in the education and training of Guyanese. The administration is cognizant of the fact that the magnanimous transformation projected for Guyana would mean nothing for Guyanese unless more and more persons are qualified to capitalize on the opportunities that are bound to come on stream.
During the outreaches in Region One, residents spared no effort in registering for their desired courses. As Wednesday’s outreach wrapped up, in excess of 70 applications were completed on the spot and submitted to the GOAL team.
So far, minister Parag has conducted similar outreaches across Regions One, Two and Five, while teams of GOAL officials have already reached out to residents of Region Three. Over the next two days, another team will be in Region Nine, while minister Parag is slated to take on Region Six on Friday.
The ministry’s aim is to ensure that GOAL benefits from a healthy balance across all spectrums, including ethnic and geographic. “Our people in every nook and cranny of this nation must be properly educated and qualified to benefit from the opportunities that will soon begin to unfold,” minister Parag asserted. After two extensions, the registration period for GOAL will finally end this Saturday at mid-night.
The Ministry of Public Service, Training Division today launched its 2021 training programs for Public Service Employees. Over the last few months, the Ministry has been working to redesign training programs offered to the Public Sector with a view to aligning same with the efficient delivery of service to the Public as well as equipping employees with the know how to effectively accomplish and achieve their Ministry’s or Agency’s goals. The first training course is focused on Customer Care which had approximately 20 employees registered and commenced today with its first of five batches. During the course of 2021 more robust training programs will be rolled out to fill gaps in the Public Service.Minister Parag in her address stated that training and re-training is of utmost importance to the development of Human Resource Captial within the Public Service, since it enhances the efficient and expedient delivery of services thus leading to the satisfaction of the Public. Additionally, training develops the individual through the skills they obtain that may last for a life time. Finally, it was noted that training for 2021 and beyond will therefore go under many changes and reforms that will lead to the further development of the Human Resources and Public Service.
