GINA | GOVERNMENT INFORMATION AGENCY

24 completes PALS course

Georgetown, GINA, May 9, 2004

Twenty-four participants from six regions in Guyana concluded a two-day Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course, today.
Just before a media briefing in the waiting area of the Psychiatric Clinic, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), certificates of participation were given to the participants.
An eight-member team from Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Tennesse, USA, is on a week long stint in the country to impart their knowledge and skills to doctors and nurses.
The two day course was a success, Dr. Madan Rambarran, Director of Medical and Professional Services told reporters at the media briefing.
He noted that in April 2003, a team from Tennessee was here and an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Training Course was held.
‘It is a wonderful opportunity for us to collaborate with the GPHC and our goal is to establish a self sustaining programme, so that Guyanese physicians and nurses can continue to train their colleagues,” said Dr. Jeff Mc.Kinzie leader of the medical team.
Another member of the team, Dr. Les Wooldridge was pleased at the enthusiasm shown by participants and he noted that it was exciting to have medical personnel from various regions to participate. “It broadens the scope,” he said.
Participants had hands-on experience, with the team bringing in dummies, for demonstrations, including resuscitations procedures and vascular access. There was much interactive teaching.
Dr. Alexandra Harvey, head of the Guyana programme, said it was successful because of the excellent teaching, and she noted that although the programme began only last year, by December there were instructors trained in Cardiac Life Support.
GPHC is already sustainable in Cardiac Life Support and Dr. Harvey hopes the institution will soon be self-sustainable in other areas as well.
“I want to emphasize that in that short space of time, we have started running our own courses up to standard with the American Heart Association, and we have to keep that standard,” said Dr. Harvey.
Director of Regional Health Service, Dr. Beri Ramsaran said that the participants were impressed with the PLS Provider Manual used in the course.
“It is a well thought out manual and it is user friendly,” he said.
The teaching session is a joint effort between the GPHC and the Ministry of Health.
Carl Amsterdam, Regional Health Office of Region Eight said he was impressed with the course and when he returns to his Region, he will hold a workshop with his other colleagues.
The Vanderbilt University team will be working along with nurses and doctors in the Accident and Emergency Unit on Monday through Wednesday. They depart on Thursday.
Other members of the team are Clingenpeel; Shannon Snyder, Seth Wright, Brent Lemonds, CP Krishnamurthy and John Rhode.
They are here on a voluntary basis and according to Dr. Rambaraan the equipment brought in will be of service to the GPHC.
Participants from private hospitals also assisted in funding the course.

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