Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 07, 2014 News
The Berbice Regional Health Authority (BRHA) in collaboration with Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) wrapped
up a three-day training Care for the Elderly seminar for health care practitioners. The training was held in the boardroom of the BRHA, Fort Canje, Berbice.
Representatives from 15 health centres, the three district hospitals and New Amsterdam Hospital were represented at the seminar. Additionally, doctors, nurses and trainee- nurses were also present. The lecturers were Dr. Narissa Ramnarine, Dr. Shivon Lewis and Dr. Vinashri Khirodar.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BRHA, Dr. Vishwa Mahadeo, who addressed the opening of the seminar, pledged to take geriatric care directly to the health centres and continue to provide the home- based care.
Dr. Mahadeo stated that Berbice has a population of over 90,000. He thanked PAHO, particularly Dr. Mahli Cho, for working closely with the BRHA. Dr. Mahadeo spoke of the commencement of the Extended Home- based Care programme which was started five years ago. Today, more than 700 bed-ridden patients are visited and cared for.
He said that most of the patients that were visited are elderly. It was also discovered that their needs were “very, very different than those of the regular adults.” He noted that Dr. Cho was approached about the issue and she responded in a positive manner by spearheading training for persons to care for the elderly.
Training for doctors, nurses and medexes were organized in Georgetown in the past, where two representatives from each region were represented.
Dr. Mahadeo added that each health centre in Berbice will dedicate one day each week to caring for the elderly. The official added that the training will help those caring for the elderly to deal with the bed- ridden and differently-abled.
Very often, he added, the elderly when they visit the hospitals wait longer than the other persons, since they don’t fight and push for services and to be seen.
“We need to have this training so that people can have— the care will be taken to the health centres— and we have the best health care delivery at the primary health care level across the country,” he added.
One staff from each health centre will identify persons in their respective communities to work with them (the nurses) to monitor the elderly persons and diabetic patients, and “feed the report back to the health centre.”
The health and wellness concept will also be taken to the schools across Berbice whereby each school would be asked to identify two teachers who would be trained on four modules on care for the elderly.
PAHO Representative in Guyana, Dr.Mahli Cho, talked about the phases of life that elderly people go through, including loneliness and how it affects them.
She said that current World Health Organization (WHO) statistics show that 12.8 per cent of Guyana’s population falling inside the old-age bracket, while 7.5 per cent of total population in Guyana are between 55- 65 years old.
Additionally, WHO statistics show 5.3 per cent of the population being over 65- years- old. “We need to focus on the elderly and on non- communicable diseases and we need to focus on how this group of people needs to be treated…before developing complications,” Dr. Cho added.
A follow- up training session would include the remaining 11 health centres in East and West Berbice. There was an evaluation in the end of the three- day seminar.
According to the BRHA, the participants performed very well and were receptive to the knowledge that was disseminated. It is expected that the knowledge gained would boost the BRHA’s Mega Geriatric Clinics across the country. At least two more clinics would be held before the year is completed.
Jagdeo giving Exxon 102 cent to collect 2 cent.
Apr 25, 2024
By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – The French Diplomatic Office in Guyana, in collaboration with the Guyana Olympic Association and UNICEF, hosted an exhibition on Tuesday evening at the...Kaieteur News – Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, persists in offering... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]