• Submitted by: manso
• International
• 01 / 19 / 2011

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Tuesday, January 18, 2011. A group of 11 Jamaican nurses who work in the public health sector, along with their educators, will leave the island tomorrow for Cuba to obtain practical experience in the area of nephrology.

The nurses will spend a week in Cuba, in an effort geared at strengthening Jamaica’s dialysis programme, the Ministry of Health said.

Minister of Health Rudyard Spencer says this forms part of efforts by the government to improve the services available to persons with malfunctions and diseases of the kidneys.

“We are continuing our efforts at improving dialysis service in the public health sector by increasing training of persons, equipment available and access to dialysis centres. The training of these nurses is a part of our broader vision of improving access to quality health care to Jamaicans,” Spencer said.

There are currently three dialysis centres in the public health sector located at the Kingston Public, Spanish Town and Cornwall Regional hospitals.  The Mandeville Regional Hospital will be officially launching its dialysis unit tomorrow.

The training of the nurses forms part of the bilateral cooperation agreement with Cuba, which will also result in the recruitment of additional medical personnel from that country to work in Jamaica’s health care system.

A team from the Ministry of Health led by Spencer will be heading to Cuba next week to, among other things, meet the new Cuban Health Minister, finalise the bio-medical services contract and have discussions on the recruitment of new medical staff and the supply of pharmaceuticals.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/Jamaican-nurses-head-to-Cuba#ixzz1BOiWPzn8