Bahamian Nurses Trained & Certified in Paediatric Cancer Care by SCI

#Bridgetown, March 26^th, 2019 – Barbados – Bahamian nurses were part of a group of recent graduates from the University of the West Indies (UWI) School of Nursing’s (Trinidad) Paediatric Haematology/Oncology program. 

The 27 nurses from The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, under the SickKids-Caribbean Initiative (SCI), have completed specialised training in the care of children with cancer and other blood disorders.

With the support of the SickKids Foundation, SCI was established in 2013 as a partnership with the University of the West Indies as well as Ministries of Health, hospitals and institutions in six Caribbean countries, including The Bahamas. This partnership focuses on building the sustainable local capacity to diagnose, treat, and manage paediatric cancers and blood disorders.

Regional bank CIBC FirstCaribbean pledged USD$1 million to the initiative over a seven-year period (2014 – 2020) through its charitable arm, the FirstCaribbean International Comtrust Foundation. As nurse training partner, the bank funded the full training for all but one of the 27 nurses.   

“We are truly proud to be a partner with SCI and support the life-changing work they have been doing across the region to ensure that hundreds of children diagnosed with cancers or blood disorders have access to the very best care delivered by trained professionals,” said Colette Delaney, Chair of the FirstCaribbean International ComTrust Foundation and Chief Executive Officer of CIBC FirstCaribbean.

“The work of the dedicated doctors and nurses of SCI has greatly improved the outcome and enhanced the quality of care and life for so many of our most vulnerable citizens – our children,” Ms. Delaney added.

In SCI’s 2017-2018 Annual Progress Report, Bahamian doctor Corrine Sin Quee-Brown said, “The greatest contribution the SickKids Caribbean Initiative made this past year was the completion of training of four Paediatric Oncology nurses. All four returned home and are well-engaged in the area and making a great impact and difference to the lives of our children with cancer and blood disorders. They do more than just administer medications; they give the added emotional and scheduling support that were so limited in the past. The sky is the limit now that a team is in place and hopefully this team will have the addition of another paediatric haematologist/oncologist in the very near future.”

To date SCI has significantly improved the diagnosis and care of scores of children across the region. The initiative has also added to the library of regional medical literature and resources, with the completion of five supportive care guidelines and five clinical care guidelines documents.

Press Release: CIBC FirstCaribbean International

(SW Media & Public Relations)

Photo Caption: Nurses and educators pause for a photo outside the UWI School of Nursing in Trinidad.