Praise for programmes attracting Bermudians into medical careers

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Minister of Health Zane DeSilva has praised the Bermuda Hospitals Board for programmes that are helping Bermudians realise their career dreams.

He said a shortage of nurses, doctors and x-ray technicians is a challenge and it is important to attract young Bermudians to careers in healthcare.

At present, only around 30 percent of Bermuda’s healthcare professionals are Bermudian, according to the Minister.

He therefore applauded the BHB for the programmes they offer to encourage young people into those careers.

“These programmes begin when primary schoolchildren are invited on tours of King Edward VII Memorial and are followed up by staff members who visit private and public secondary schools to present healthcare-related lectures and career options at both KEMH and the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute,” he said.

“BHB enrols hundreds of young people in after-school and summer volunteer programmes, geared for 14 to 18 year-olds.

“They also offer internships, summer employment and job shadow placements to college students who have an interest in occupations at the hospital.

“The summer employment programme is based on the projected employment needs of the hospital over the next three, five and ten years.”

He said there were more than 150 applications for summer employment this year, and more than 50 young Bermudians were accepted.

“In addition, BHB also awards scholarships based on the projected employment needs of the organisation and provides career guidance to its scholarship recipients,” said Mr DeSilva.

“In the past five years alone, BHB has allotted over $1.5 million to Bermudian students studying nursing, medicine, pharmacy, diagnostic imaging, allied health and pathology.”

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