A new cohort of 113 midwives graduated on Wednesday from the Ministry of Health’s Health Sciences Education (HSE) Midwifery Training Programme, marking a significant milestone in strengthening maternal and newborn care across Guyana.
The two-year programme delivered a comprehensive blend of theoretical instruction and hands-on clinical practice, ensuring graduates are fully equipped to elevate the quality of midwifery services and improve health outcomes for women of childbearing age and their newborns.
The Government of Guyana continues to offer the midwifery training programme through a full scholarship. There are two pathways available:
• Single Trained Midwifery (Urban Midwives Programme):
A 24-month course designed for individuals with no prior health sector experience or recent secondary school graduates.
• Post Basic Midwifery:
A pathway for Nursing Assistants or Registered Nurses to advance their professional training.
Throughout the training period, students developed core competencies essential to modern midwifery practice, including clinical proficiency, effective communication, and critical thinking. Key subject areas comprised:
• Obstetrics
• Maternal and Child Health
• Family Planning
• Health Promotion and Education
• Public Health and Community Care
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Health, Honourable Dr. Frank Anthony, congratulated the graduates on their hard work and dedication. He highlighted the government’s continued investment in expanding health infrastructure and building a highly trained workforce to improve service delivery nationwide.
“In institutions where certain types of services are demanded, you have to ensure that the highest quality of professional care is delivered,” Minister Anthony stated.
He further emphasised the importance of continuous learning, noting, “Medicine is a field where new knowledge is generated every single day. You should always seek opportunities to improve yourself. If you don’t keep up with what is happening, then very quickly what you learned in this course can become outdated.”
Director of the Health Sciences Education Division, Ms. Chandroutie Persaud, proudly noted that this year’s graduating class is the largest in the programme’s history. She credited the dedication of the midwifery coordinator, nursing school faculty, staff of public and private hospitals, and the wider Health Sciences Division for this achievement.
Graduates also shared reflections on their journey. Newly graduated midwife Wazim Sharma described the programme as deeply impactful, praising the commitment of nursing tutors who supported the growth of every student. Fellow graduand Stephanie Frank expressed that midwifery brings immense joy, especially in witnessing the happiness of mothers after childbirth. She encouraged future applicants to pursue the profession with genuine love and compassion to ensure the best care for mothers and babies.
Also attending the ceremony held at the Pegasus Corporate Suites were, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Narine Singh; Health Education Officer Ms. Himwatie Persaud; Senior Health Education Officer Ms. Georgel Abrams; Nursing Officer Dr. Nicola Nero; and other officials.
The Ministry of Health extends heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class and looks forward to the positive impact they will make in healthcare delivery across Guyana. [Ministry of Health Press Release]
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