Georgetown : “All programmes offered by the University of Guyana’s Faculty of Health Sciences are important.” This assertion has been made by Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr Emanuel Cummings, even as he amplified his concerns recently about programmes that have been halted by the university. The programmes – Optometry, Pharmacy and Rehabilitation Sciences, have been the subject of controversial discourse in recent times between Government and the governance of the University. There has been no intimation as to when or if the matter, which is reportedly linked to the fee construction of the programmes, will be resolved.
According to Dr Cummings during a recent invited comment, “I am very upset with the situation…I am hoping that the University will put aside its differences and have the programmes reinstated.”
This newspaper understands that the status of the programmes is currently gaining the attention of the Ministry of Health but according to Dr Cummings he has had cause to take his concerns directly to the President of the nation. “I have sent a letter to the President not so long ago and it is being addressed at the highest level. The issue of the students’ fee I hope between the university and the government they can sort that out but right now it is being sorted out at the expense of our young people.” Young people who are desirous of applying for the three programmes in question are being denied the opportunity to be trained, Dr Cummings passionately asserted.
“I can’t see when 20 per cent of the population are visually impaired. How can we then say we can address this without having a programme in Optometry? Persons who are diabetic or even those who have been debilitating accidents; they need medication and rehabilitation services…this is critical and I don’t see why the fooling around with something that is extremely important.”
In emphasising his conviction that all of the programmes offered by the Health Sciences Faculty are crucial, Dr Cummings noted that “I can’t see that anybody could think that they are not important. They all have equal importance because they all have individual contributions which will collectively help to advance the health care agenda.”
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