Allwood-Anderson

Edith Allwood-Anderson, president of the Nurses Association of Jamaica, has suggested that the Government train more nurses and other medical personnel instead of recruiting them from abroad.

She noted that cultural barriers make it difficult for them to adapt.

Mrs. Allwood-Anderson's suggestion comes following Health Minister Horace Dalley's announcement last Thursday that 100 Cuban medical personnel, including pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses, cytotechnologists, among others, are to be assigned to the public health sector under the renewal of the Cuban-Jamaican Technical Cooperation Agreement.

"It must be a much more expensive venture to recruit medical personnel than train your own and have them stay," Mrs. Allwood-Anderson told The Gleaner yesterday.

She noted that, in the past, the Government has recruited medical personnel from India and Cuba, among other countries, and these persons usually grapple with cultural barriers including the language.

She said nurses in Jamaica have to orient these medical personnel for several months, leaving them with little time to focus on their duties.

Mrs. Allwood-Anderson said the move seemed to be an attempt by Government to seek a short-term solution to the shortage of medical personnel in Jamaica.

"I wish them luck and hope they will train more Jamaicans," she told The Gleaner.

The Cubans are expected to be here for one year, initially and both parties will decide if the services of the workers will be extended beyond that duty. Jamaica will provide passage for the workers to and from Cuba as well as accommodation, while the Cuban Ministry of Health will pay their salaries.