The use of helmets and other protective gear was emphasised yesterday when a training programme for nurses got underway at the Project Dawn, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara headquarters.The programme, which will continue today, has attracted participation from several accident and emergency-oriented nurses from Region Two and the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC). It is geared to highlight ways they could help to reduce the number of trauma cases that are usually seen at public health facilities.With a major focus on neurological trauma cases, facilitator Mr. Rowland Ramdass, Assistant Professor of Farmingdale State College in the United States, engaged the nurses in intense discussion. Ramdass, a senior practising nurse at the New York Presbyterian Hospital also addressed areas such as Physical Assessment and Cardiac Meds.According to Alero Proctor, GPHC’s Public Relations Officer, Ramdass’s timely support followed after discussion with Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Khan, who in fact made the necessary arrangement for the programme to take off. “He (Ramdass) initially showed the interest, as certain others have, to give us some support bringing with him knowledge of how things are done in the United States.”However, Ramdass’s intent, according to Proctor, is in fact two-pronged as he has also brought along five of his students who he expects will learn about the operations in a developing country.The GPHC has for some time now been receiving immense support from various individuals and entities to sustain its nursing education programme. In commemoration of Nurses’ Week, last week, support was forthcoming from the Canada-based, Guyana Burn and Health Care Charitable Foundation (GBHCCF).Emphasis was given to the first 24 to 48 hours after delivery as the most risky time for a new born and mother.The participants were exposed to nursing development courses that included neonatal resuscitation, maternal and fetal well being, physical assessment, infection prevention and control, fetal monitor instruction, IV pump instruction, electrocardiogram among other issues.According to Assistant Director of Nursing Services at the GPHC, Brother Owen John,Cheap Jerseys, the nurses’ education programme, is coordinated by Mr Harry Harakh who was the pioneer of the Burns Care Unit at the GPHC and he has been working in collaboration with the public hospital for the past 12 years.The Canada-based Guyanese, along with his wife Pamela Harakh, a nurse for the past 24 years, had together founded the Guyana Burn and Health Care Foundation, a charitable organisation in Canada.Harakh, his wife, and team of eight professionals had travelled here in order to launch the continued nursing education training programme.The nurses’ education programme, he said, started about two years ago and came as a challenge to GBHCCF to further empower the nurses as part of the nurses’ week activities. It took about one year to figure the areas of priority, Harakh said.Though he is a professional accountant, Harakh has a significant connection with a number of medical experts whom he persuaded to travel to Guyana to facilitate the nurses’ education programme.“I have been able to attract them to our cause because they have a willingness to help developing countries…They responded so overwhelmingly and are so supportive…and are all here at their own expense,” Harakh noted.
