More Issues to Discuss Beyond Succession Plans for Nurses in Belize

Andrew Baird

Now, while Baird wants answers from the association in regards to the task force and elections, he says that he believes some of the points that they have called for are legitimate. He told us that if nurses were consulted more issues would have been included in the nursing task force’s agenda with the Ministries of Health and Public Service. He shares some of those concerns.

Andrew Baird, Nurse Advocate

“We do not just have a nursing succession issue in Belmopan, we have a succession issue throughout the country of Belize. We have the workplace violence. We want to see the general well-being of the nurses being addressed by the leadership. We want to hear and talks start for health insurance for our healthcare workers.   In January of 2018, the nursing council, I believe, along with the ministry had a two day conference where consultants Dr Diana Mason and Jane Savage, who are international consultant and policy makers came to this country with a view for a framework to be developed after the future of nursing. Why is it that hasn’t been addressed? Where is the recommendation? Where is the information from that consult? For so long the curriculum for nursing at UB should have been addressed and still not been addressed as yet. That is what the leadership of nursing should be looking after. We see seventy nurses taking the regional exam, what we call the RENR, and thirty pass. Let’s find out what is affecting our nurses why we are failing.”