New Region 9 Community Health Workers promises to fully serving their communities

The 61 new Community Health Workers (CHWs) who graduated on Sunday in Upper Takutu-
Upper Essequibo (Region Nine) have committed themselves to selfless service to the region.
Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony presented the certificates to the 2021 batch of healthcare
workers at the Indigenous People’s Conference Hall, Lethem. In an interview conducted by a
government affiliated media house, some of the CHWs spoke about the many challenges they
face due to the pandemic. They noted that they are however, ready to provide quality health care
services to their communities. Best graduating student, Dave John stressed that he faced many
challenges, including having to get back to studies after an extended period, missing his family
and not being able to travel because of the pandemic.

John said the training programme is a stepping stone. He believes it is a challenge for any young
person to elevate themselves in the health sector. “I see this as a stepping stone mostly because
from the time I’ve been here in training, I got to hear from the persons who would’ve started as
CHWs then climb up the ladder. So, I believe for any young person, it’s a challenge they would
need to take so that they can elevate themselves in their career and put them on a path,” John
explained. The new CHW pointed out that when he returns to his community, he will be doing
mostly the practical aspects of his training to enhance his community’s health care standards. “I
would be mostly doing vital signs and visitations so that the community can get to the level that
they are supposed to be at, using traditional and the medicine that we would have learnt, so that
the community can to the standard the country supposed to have,” John said
Another new CHW, Shireen Browne plans to do the same. “What I plan to do, is to visit homes
and talk on basic sanitation and all the things that we have learned in class and mostly with our
children vaccination programmes and of course our COVID vaccines…,” Browne said. He
added, “I think this is a great programme, and I would encourage anybody to start here.”
Meanwhile, Raulin Adolphus said, “the training is important; I have to go back now to share
what I learn and practice what was taught to me….” Adolphus added, “This is a nice, simple
training because you don’t really have to get the CXC subjects to come in, it’s a nice way of
coming in the health system and through the health system you could upgrade yourself.”
Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony assured that his ministry will be offering nursing aide,
pharmacy and laboratory aide programmes in 2022. Dr Anthony declared that the programmes
are government’s way of creating career paths for persons wanting to go join the health sector.
“We’re creating new career paths, career paths that was never there before so you don’t have to
be a Community Health Worker for the rest of your life. This should be the stepping stone where
you can train to become other health care professional within the system and we are going to
create that path for you,” Dr. Anthony said.

He noted that the health centers in Region Nine will be receiving health packages of all
necessary equipment to properly serve residents of the villages. “We have an undertaking that all
the health centers in this region would receive a package of equipment that would be based at
each health center or health post,” the minister acknowledged. The health minister said systems

are already in place for infrastructural works to be done at the Karasabai, Annai and Aishalton
district hospital.
Additionally, the health ministry will ensure the hospital is equipped with theaters, to facilitate
minor operations. Dr Anthony added that it will also allow doctors to optimise their skills and
provide improved health care services to hinterland communities.