EDITOR’S NOTE: At the end of March, #HealthCaribbean featured Nursing in the Caribbean, in our edition 2021-04-05. We do the same in this newsletter. Two Caribbean countries are covered, namely: Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Three of our five articles are on Jamaica. The remaining two are on Trinidad and Tobago. 

Our headline, taken from the WHO website, reads: “Caribbean Countries Boost the Capacities of Nurses in Critical Care during COVID-19”.  The University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine, School of Nursing collaborated with PAHO/WHO, to develop a course to teach nurses necessary skills and competencies required for critical nursing care in Intensive Care Units.

Trinidad’s Patriotic Front political leader — Mickela Panday — pleaded with citizens to show compassion and consideration towards frontline healthcare workers, particularly during the pandemic. Nevertheless, Jamaican nurses who have migrated contend that nursing is undervalued by all stakeholders in Jamaica, irrespective of shortages being experienced.

But, Jamaica’s Prime Minister —  Andrew Holness — affirms that his administration is committed to filling staff complement of nurses needed in Jamaica’s public health system. And last month, Jamaica piloted a resolution at the 74^th World Health Assembly, in Geneva, Switzerland, aimed at strengthening nursing and midwifery.

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