Bridgetown, Barbados, 29 June 2023 (PAHO/WHO) - PAHO/WHO Office for Barbados and the ECC recently provided support for training workshops coordinated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Barbados.
On June 26th and 27th, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Wellness hosted two half-day training workshops entitled ‘Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) Bi-Monthly Training to Strengthen Technical Capacities in Vaccine’s Administration’.
The training component ‘Effective Workplace Communication for Team Building and Collaboration’ was coordinated and supported by PAHO.
Each workshop also covered the following sessions: ‘Gaps and Weaknesses that affect Vaccine Administration’ presented by Sister Juleyette Serrano; ‘Gaps and Weaknesses that affect Supply Chain Management’ by Sister Rosanette Cooke; and ‘IT Integration for Efficient Immunization Data Access, Completeness, and Timeliness’ by IT Instructor Maria George.
Fifty-three senior health sisters, staff nurses and nurse practitioners from the island’s polyclinics received training and were actively participative.
The objectives of the workshops were to:
- Identify gaps and address the weaknesses that affect vaccine administration;
- Address the gaps identified in Supply Chain Management that impact vaccine administration, and discuss steps to improve immunization data access, completeness, and timeliness;
- Improve communication skills to help foster an environment of open workplace communication that will boost workers’ engagement, belonging and overall accountability;
- Encourage team buy-in and team work;
- Increase productivity;
- Build a healthy workplace and organizational culture by seeking and providing feedback or consulting more broadly to obtain feedback as required, and reduce conflict.
During the facilitation of Effective Workplace Communication for Team Building and Collaboration, Communications Specialist & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner, Lynette G. Taylor, covered the following focal points through presentation and team building exercises. Effective Communication, What prevents Effective Communication; Bridging the Gap; Team Building & Collaboration; Connecting the Dots.
PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the ECC, Dr. Amalia Del Riego, “commend the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Barbados for their diligence in successfully providing training for immunization providers from across the island. The COVID-19 virus remains with us, and we are therefore committed to supporting the immunization programme of Barbados and the ECC countries and providing technical support for other areas of health in our member countries.”
