The government is pressing ahead with the construction of a state-of-the-art specialized regional hospital in New Amsterdam which is set to be completed next year. Once operational, the current New Amsterdam Hospital will be converted into a University of the West Indies (UWI) campus and will house the UWI School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, and Medical School.
Minister of Health Dr. Frank Anthony made these disclosures on Monday while addressing the graduation ceremony for 148 nurses from the New Amsterdam School of Nursing. He revealed that an agreement has already been finalized to upgrade and repurpose the old hospital into a UWI campus. These transformative projects will commence as soon as the staff of the current hospital transition to the new regional hospital.
Dr. Anthony further noted that graduates from the UWI campus will earn UWI-accredited degrees, offering advanced educational opportunities in Berbice. Speaking directly to the graduates, he encouraged them to seize every opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills in the healthcare sector and to take advantage of the upcoming programs at the new UWI campus.
The Minister also noted the construction of a modernized nursing school at Charles Place, New Amsterdam. The facility, which will feature advanced teaching aids and equipment, aims to provide first-class training for nursing students. Dr. Anthony expressed hope that the new facility would be completed next year, allowing students to transition from the current building to the upgraded school, which will then become fully operational.
The graduation ceremony celebrated the achievements of 148 Berbicians who completed programs in midwifery, registered nursing, and nursing assistance. In his feature address, Dr. Anthony congratulated the graduates and urged them to approach their duties with empathy, professionalism, and teamwork. Emphasizing that medicine is a “team sport,” he called on the graduates to prioritize collaboration to deliver the highest standard of care to their patients.
