Thirty-eight individuals have graduated from the Ministry of Health’s Patient Care Assistant (PCA) Programme in Region Five, marking another milestone in the government’s efforts to strengthen the delivery of quality healthcare services across Guyana.
The newly trained Patient Care Assistants are now equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to provide direct, hands-on care to patients under the supervision of Nursing Assistants or Registered Nurses. Their training covered key areas such as basic nursing care, infection prevention and control, patient hygiene, communication, and ethics in healthcare delivery.
The programme, implemented through the Ministry of Health’s Health Sciences Education Division, continues to serve as a vital initiative in expanding the healthcare workforce, particularly within regional and community health facilities.
During the graduation ceremony, the Minister of Health, Dr. Frank Anthony, commended the graduates for their dedication and perseverance throughout the training. He said their commitment reflects the Ministry’s vision of improving health outcomes at every level of care.
“The Ministry has been making continuous efforts to expand health care across the country, recognising that achieving quality health care requires strengthening the workforce within the system,”
— Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health
The Minister encouraged the graduates to approach their new roles with compassion, professionalism, and integrity, adding that the government’s broader goal is to ensure that every region has an adequate number of health workers, thereby reducing the need for staff to travel between regions to provide services.
Dr. Anthony also highlighted that the Ministry plans to implement 116 primary health care interventions aimed at reducing the disease burden and improving health outcomes across all regions.
The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to investing in training and capacity building, ensuring that every region benefits from a competent, caring, and well-prepared healthcare workforce.
