With the country’s health sector undergoing changes, Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony has urged Nurses to work harder to help realize the changes in sector.

Speaking at a Nurses Appreciation and Award Ceremony on Tuesday as part of the Nurses Week observances, the Health Minister said the local Health sector is seeing changes like never before.  He said the government has been investing heavily to ensure that the country delivers first world services to citizens. 

But he acknowledged that such an achievement is nearly impossible without Nurses.

He told the nurses that while they may not see all the benefits now, they can be part of a transformation process.

“Maybe we will not enjoy the benefits because it will take a few years for that to happen but certainly we would be part of a change that would change this country forever. Because I think that people would like to a have a world class health care system and we could be the one to change it,” the health Minister stated.

Dr. Anthony explained that the government is taking a new approach in dealing with health related issues here and therefore, he said everyone must be motivated in order to deliver the kind of service expected of them  

“And I really want all of us to see how we can improve and how we can grow, so that wherever you are—whichever institutions you are in, that you can be a leader in that institution in your sector.  We want to empower everybody to do their bit. That is what we are here for,” the Health Minister told the nurses.

The Minister also stated that the Health Ministry is looking to zoom in on women’s health, specifically cancer. It was noted that there continues to be a troubling increase in the number of diagnosed breast and cervical cancer cases locally.

“The people before us had all kinds of challenges, they didn’t had money, they didn’t had this, they didn’t had that, and we are changing that. So I really want to use this occasion to appeal to all of you, to see how in your own way you can be part of this transformation and help us make this into a reality,” the Health Minister urged.

Several nurses were presented with awards for their outstanding contributions to the field of nursing over the years. Guyana continues to see nurses migrating in large numbers to take up lucrative jobs in the United Kingdom and other countries.

The Government has increased the number of nurses that it is training, with the hope of filling the gap that has been left behind.

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