Nurses in St.Vincent and the Grenadines, as well as other heath care professionals, will get an opportunity in the New Year to pursue Bachelor’s degrees without having to leave the state.{{more}}

Prime Minister Dr.Ralph Gonsalves made the disclosure on Monday, April 12, 2010, as he rolled out the Government’s national strategy for the development of the health care sector.

Under the health care programme which kicks off on January 1, 2011, 40 online degrees will be made available to nurses and supporting medical personnel, with each programme costing an estimated EC$60,000.

This initiative will be funded under the 10th European Development Fund.

The Prime Minister stated that some persons will be trained specifically to man the ‘Lives to Live Programme’, a project designed by the state under the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), to care for persons with disabilities.

He added 10 scholarships will also be granted to Environmental Health Officers, while another 10 will be made available for persons to pursue basic courses across the board.

Meanwhile, Gonsalves used the opportunity to announce that the health care programme also has a health communication component which will focus on wellness promotion strategy development. He said he forsees opportunities for journalists to provide communication services on a contractual basis. (HN)