Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 10, 2014 News
In a fervent quest to ensure that practicing nurses are continually encouraged to help advance the profession, Chief Nursing
Officer, Tarmattie Barker, has voiced an appeal for them to attach themselves to the local nursing association.
Barker was at the time addressing a group of nurses during a belated observance of International Nurses’ Day last week for nurses of public health facilities in Region Four. The simple event was venued at Ramphal House, Shiv Chanderpaul Drive, Georgetown.
“I want to encourage you to join your national nurses’ association…You know it is critical when we have a body to represent us,” the Chief Nurse told the gathering of nurses.
The Guyana Nurses Association (GNA) is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organisation opened for membership from all Registered Nurses, Midwives, Nursing Assistants and Public Health Nurses. Retired nurses and care givers are also known to associate with the body.
The mission of the Association is to advance the status of the nursing profession through capacity building, an improved public image, and the maintenance of quality nursing services and care to clients.
Moreover, Barker amplified the importance for nursing associations to take advantage of fora such as the recent International Council of Nurses (ICN) meeting that was held in Geneva ahead of a World Health Assembly meeting.
While Barker was not able to shed light on Guyana’s attendance to the ICN meeting, she pointed out that among the topics that were discussed were “universal health care and the achievements that have been gained over the years, and looking at our health work force which is a critical area because we don’t have adequately trained health personnel.”
Without adequately trained personnel, Barker asserted that “we will not be able to deliver the kind of quality care and give the kind of services needed.”
This publication has been able to uncover that based on nursing statistics accumulated a few years ago, the local health system has in place in excess of 700 staff nurse/midwives, more than 300 single trained midwives, 484 nursing assistants, and some 65 medexes trained as midwives.
Also addressed at the ICN meeting, held during the period May 14 and 15, was safe quality nursing and midwifery services and care.
It saw the attendance of at least 91 national Nurses Associations. “That was the same time during Nurses’ Week and they had many (important) discussions and deliberations…I want to say to you that I know you are a group here who should be endeavouring to be a part of the Association,” Barker appealed as she highlighted her expectation that come next year deliberate efforts will be made to benefit from the strategic forum to help build on gains already made.
But even if Guyana were to absent itself, Barker observed, it is expected that some benefits will still “trickle down” to these parts since the local Nurses Association is a registered member of the ICN. The ICN is a federation of more than 130 national nurses associations and therefore represents associations across the globe.
Barker mentioned too that Guyana is a member of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) which supports, represents and works to strengthen professional associations of midwives throughout the world. “We are moving forward by becoming part of those international organisations – International Council of Nurses, International Confederation of Midwives,” said Barker as she acknowledged that it was Guyana’s embracing of such bodies that allowed for its participation at the ICM’s 30th Triennial Congress earlier this month.
The five-day congress venued in Prague, Czech Republic, was attended by Nurse Tracy Gentle. And according to Barker, that meeting was one that addressed issues including bridging the gap between midwifery and women’s rights to increasing health care for women, the family and the community. The forum also saw the launching and discussion pertaining to the State of the World Midwifery Report.
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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