The Bermuda Hospitals Board (BHB) has awarded $250,000 in scholarships to 13 students pursuing careers in healthcare.

Health Minister Michael Scott and Education Minister Randolph Horton announced yesterday's awards ceremony at the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MAWI), in front of an audience of nearly 40 people.

Five scholarships are being awarded to nursing students, one to a medical student and seven to pupils seeking degrees in allied health fields, such as pathology, psychology, physiotherapy, diagnostic imaging and social work.

In addition, certified nursing assistant diplomas were presented to several BHB staff that graduated within the past 12 months from Gateway Community College in Phoenix, Arizona.

Not only was it a proud day for Bermuda's health care system, but a proud day for the Cabinet, stated Mr. Scott.

"Today, we celebrate the achievement of 36 individuals," he said, "Who will either receive education scholarships or who have graduated from educational programmers during the last 12 months.

"We're all acutely aware of the shortages that exist within health care. For our little island in the middle of the Atlantic, we recognise the need to grow more local talent to meet our needs.

"Whilst we appreciate all of our health care workers; our foreign health care workers, our guest health care workers, we do appreciate and celebrate you and support your development.

"We must prioritise opportunities for Bermudians, to not only succeed, but to advance in the health care sector." A new health care provision and a new acute care unit are only a fraction of plans to be introduced and are aligned with Government's overall objective for Bermudian preparedness, according to Mr. Scott.

And Mr. Horton said the Island is currently in direct competition with the rest of the world to obtain the best and the brightest when it comes to the provision of high-quality health care.

He also stressed to the awardees, not to take their accomplishments and goals lightly, as "the hard work has just begun."

"Prepare to burn the midnight oil to achieve the success you desire and which all of you here know you are destined for," he continued.

"The efforts of the BHB in assisting young Bermudians in taking their rightful place in their country, have not gone unnoticed.

"Government places high value of initiatives of this nature, since we are in keeping with our goal of ensuring that more and more, Bermudians become masters of their destiny, charting the course for this country's future.

"The return investment being made in these 13 students will not only be rich, but far-reaching. The realisation of their hopes and dreams means 13 fewer guest workers coming to these shores. As small as that number may seem, let me tell you that in the grand scheme of things that is of major significance."

Another benefit to having Bermudians fill more positions with regards to healthcare, is the minimisation of the "domino effect" caused by the strain put on transportation and housing by expatriate workers, explained Mr. Horton.

Peter Rego, 23, who just finished a Bachelor's of Arts Degree (BA) in Kinesiology and was awarded a four-year scholarship for his current studies at the University of Queensland in Australia, for a Master's Degree in Physiotherapy.

He told The Royal Gazette: "I'm so thankful, it's an honour. I've worked so hard and it's good to see Bermuda recognising our young people ¿ I'm excited to come back to BHB after my studies and to become a registered physiotherapist."

Nursing scholarship recipients were: Vairi Cassidy, Najah Garcia, Lindsay Lodge, Minyell Long and Vinisha Saltus; for the Allied Heath category: Katrina Arnold, Carolene Beek, Filipe Jose Costa, Robin Douglas, Jean-Ann Hayward, Peter Rego and Roberta Simmons; and Attiya Talbot received a medical scholarship.

Recent graduates and certifications went to: Dawn Johnson, Dr. Kered James, H. Lynette Raynor, Gina Wilkinson, Deanne Hassell, Nicole DeShields, Peta Evans, Dionne Gouness, Patrina Ricketts, Janice Mullings, Alison O'Sullivan, Dean Parris, Joylin Isaacs, Torie Russell, Shirmell Lambert, Renee Butterfield, Linda Rothwell, Michael Nisbett, Lori Burchall, Cynthia Arruda, Brad Kleinig and Michael Hammond.