by Linda Straker
- 30 to 40 nurses from Cuba will be contracted to help fill vacancies within healthcare systems
- 50 persons will undergo nursing assistants training through National Training Agency
In early 2020 Grenada will be contracting between 30 to 40 nurses from Cuba as a temporary measure to help fill vacancies within the healthcare systems as part of a short-term measure adopted by health administrators aimed at reducing the impact of nurses who are leaving the system and taking up jobs in places like the United Kingdom.
Health Minister Nikolas Steele said government is finalising arrangements for the nurses following the visit of a delegation to Grenada a few weeks ago. “This is a stop-gap measure,” he said, admitting that over the years nurses with experience are leaving the system. “Unfortunately, we are losing our nurses to first world countries,” he said. He did not share the number of nurses who have left the system in most recent times.
Besides Cuba, Steele said that Grenada is also looking to import nurses from Ghana and India. The final agreement will include housing for the nursing professionals.
While the government will be importing the qualified registered nurses and those of high-level qualification, Steele said that 50 persons are desirous of becoming nursing assistants while undergoing a one-year training through one of the certified national training centres of the National Training Agency (NTA).
“We are still on schedule for a January start of our nursing assistants programme. We are in final negotiations with La Boucan and the national training authority of Grenada as well as our Ministry of Youth and Education to finalise the training of 50 nursing assistants, in two batches of 25,” the minister said.
The curriculum is expected to meet the criteria of the Nursing Council, the National Training Agency and the Ministry of Health. The training will involve both theory and practical.
La Boucan Creative Centre is owned and operated by former Health Minister Ann Peters, and her husband Francis Urias Peters. As a recognised national training centre, its programme will be accredited by the National Accreditation Board.
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Please make sure the Cuban nurse can speak and understand English. In the past have noticed Cuban Health care workers had problems communicating.
This nursing shortage has been a problem for many years. Why is it taking so long to rectify this situation? A country’s asset is measured in the health of its people including their lifespan. In employing nurses and other health professionals from outside…. cultural norms are so important to effective care and treatment. I agree with the other comment about introducing nursing to students in high school and even post sec.
U may want to reconsider lerping Infia out. They are nothing but troubñe
The country should be in no shortage of nurses and nurses aides. Why not introduce the nursing and nurses aide training to form 4 and 5 students. It is done in the USA in some areas and is very successful.