11 News

guyanatimesgy.com

SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 2013

19 nurses trained, certified Woman charged with passport fraud in neonatal resuscitation A

The newly-certified nurses along with the coordinator and instructor of the training programme

N

ineteen nurses have been added to the list of persons qualified to deliver quality maternal and child care to Guyanese. The nurses were part of a two-year training course in neonatal resuscitation, at the end of which they took an online examination. On Friday, the nurses were presented with certificates from the Canadian Paediatric Society. The programme was organised by the Guyana Burns and Health Care Charitable Foundation and the training was done by Canadian registered nurse Vernie Ally, who is an instructor of the neonatal resuscitation programme. This is the second batch of nurses to undergo the training; however, this year’s batch is the first to do the online examination on which they had to acquire 80 per cent or more to pass, and they all did. After two years, the nurses will have to re-certify themselves. Nurses from the Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Suddie, Kwakwani, Linden and

West Demerara hospitals participated in the training. Ally said that for the past two courses, only nurses have participated in the training and their performances were overwhelmingly good. Guyana Burns and Health Care Charitable Foundation Vice President Pamela Harakh noted that the nurses were receptive to the training and emerged successful from the online examination, which proved difficult for some of them who were not computer literate. She added that the next level for the nurses is for them to become local instructors in the field. “They will be doing teaching rather than our instructors having to come down and Mrs Ally is more than willing to assist with training the trainer,” Harakh stated. She explained that the foundation built the Burn Unit some 10 years ago and did other work to improve healthcare services in Guyana. She went on to say that her organisation continuously tries to enhance nurses’ education and also the capacity of the hospital.

Excellent job

In a brief comment, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Chief Executive Officer Michael Khan told the graduating nurses that he is proud of all of them for successfully emerging out of the training. Khan disclosed that in November, they will start foetal monitor training and will also include nurses from hospitals across the country. Georgetown Public Hospital Matron Audrey Cory explained that the hospital is focusing more on maternal and child health as part of efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). She pointed out that the last batch of nine nurses from Georgetown Public Hospital were also trained and certified in neonatal resuscitation which has helped them to more effectively and efficiently provide quality maternal and child care. She commended the nurses for the excellent job they did by committing themselves to developing their skills and knowledge. She said that the training will go a long way in assisting the nurses in knowing what to do in neonatal cases.

woman charged with passport fraud was released on her own recognisance when she appeared before Chief Magistrate Priya Sewnarine-Beharry at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts on Friday. Dowana London, 35, of Lot 45 Factory Road, Paradise, East Coast Demerara pleaded guilty to the two charges which state that between May 20, 2012 and May 24, 2013 with intention to defraud, she forged her passport number and subsequently uttered the forged document to a police constable. However, the magistrate entered a notguilty plea for the defendant after she explained to the

court what transpired. According to a police report on May 24, London was an outgoing passenger at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) when she produced her passport and it was observed that the number was that of Grace Camella Vieros. She was told of the offence and arrested. In her defence, London told the court that while she was at the immigration department waiting to apply for her passport, a young man who was sitting nearby came up and announced that persons applying for new passports should join the line. She then gave him her information and $4000, and she received a slip of paper

saying to return within five to seven days for her travel document. Upon her return, she saw the same man holding a book and he told her to sign her name, so she complied and received the passport. London then noticed that her name was misspelt and she inquired about it; however, the man stated that her document was machine readable and she did not have anything to worry about, because it will work. She related to the court that she was a bit worried, but decided to travel with the passport this year which led to the current situation. London is scheduled to return to court on June 24 for filing of statements.

Chinese national killed in road accident

T

raffic on the Mandela Avenue came to a halt on Friday afternoon after a Chinese national was crushed to death by a taxi attached to the Green Ice Service. The accident occurred just after 15:00h in the vicinity of Agri-Parts. The dead woman was identified as Xuesang Seng, 43, of Mandela Avenue. She was killed soon after leaving her restaurant. According to information received, the mother of two was crossing the busy road when she was struck down by the car bearing registration HC 2408, which was allegedly speeding west on the southern carriageway. The woman was reportedly tossed several feet from the site of the initial impact before she fell to the roadway. According to an eyewitness, after the woman was struck, she was flung into the air and came crash-

Dead Chinese national Xuesang Seng

ing down, causing traffic to come to a standstill. The driver of the silver grey motor car was immediately taken into police custody. When Guyana Times arrived at the scene, the car with a shattered wind shield was being towed away to the Ruimveldt Police Station. Bloodstains were evident on the roadway while traffic moved at

The car that was involved in the accident

a snail's pace. The relatives of the dead woman stood on their veranda and watched haplessly as her body was removed from the scene. They refused to speak to media since they are not fluent in English.