Govt invests significantly to boost Nevis healthcare system: Mark Brantley

Concerned Citizen's Movement (CCM) led Nevis Island Administration (NIA) has invested enormously to cope with the shortage of medical staff and nurses students in the colleges. The following remarks were made by Premier and the Minister of Foreign Affairs for St Kitts and Nevis Mark Brantley, noting that the CCM had made incredible efforts to boost the medical education and human capacity in the healthcare system across the nation. While informing about the investment, Nevis Premier Brantley stated, "Your CCM led NIA has invested significantly in building the human capacity in Nevis' healthcare system".

By providing the data about the admission of new staff, Mark Brantley outlines that the CCM has recruited three physical therapists; two out of them were from the Philippines and one from Cuba. Moreover, they have also hired three additional specialists (One for Internist, one for Anesthesiologist, and the remaining one was the expert of OBGYN).

As per the status of recruitment of nurses, Mark Brantley informed that they had hired seven nurses, five from the Philippines, one from India and one from St Vincent, while five Nevisian nurses have also been hired by the authorities.

Under the nursing programme of Nevis, two nurses have just finished midwifery at Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), and three nursing students got themselves enrolled in January 2022, while a total of eight local nurses have currently taken admission in the Bachelor of Nursing programme, Brantley added.

He further noted that six students have enrolled in the Nursing Assistant programme of Nevis, while three students have entered in midwifery programme.

Foreign Minister emphasised, "All local nurses are provided with financial support from the government during their training programme which includes, payment of stipend so that they could complete their education without any pressure". "We have also hired one radiographer from Cuba to assist the medical facilities in Nevis and also extended helping hands for other country nationals by supporting two local nurses financially who was pursuing Masters in Jamaica (One working for theatre techniques and one nurse for anaesthetist)," outlines Brantley. The initiative of the Nevis Premier has been appreciated by the residents of St Kitts and Nevis. One of the residents named Dana Welles applauded, "Thank you. Agreed these are true investments in healthcare in the community. So very glad to hear of the support for ongoing medical education. I, for one, just learned a few more details about our hospital. Getting the word out is so important. Bravo".