Consul General Michael Dodman awarded certificates of completion to 30 graduates of a U.S.-funded nurse assistant training program associated with Koohi Goth Hospital. The graduates, women from the rural areas near the hospital, completed 9 months of intensive training in basic nursing skills and are now qualified for jobs as nurse assistants, an area of need and opportunity in Karachi.
Speaking to the graduates, Mr. Dodman observed, “At present, there is only one nurse per two doctors in Pakistan. The recommended nurse to doctor ratio should be 7 to 1. To overcome this shortage, there is a need to train nurses, midwives, and other paramedical staff and ensure that they apply their skills in the health sector. I congratulate you on completion of this training and wish you the best of luck as you begin your new careers as nurse assistants.”
The Research Alliance for Advocacy and Development (RAAD) developed this training program in collaboration with Koohi Goth Women’s Hospital, which has been training nurses and midwives for the past 8 years. According to RAAD, the rural areas surrounding Karachi are home to many young, bright, and enthusiastic women without the formal education necessary to realize their dreams of becoming health-care professionals. The RAAD Nurse Aides Project, funded by a grant from the U.S. Consulate General Karachi and the Pakistan U.S. Alumni Network (PUAN), brings hope to these individuals while also satisfying a demand in the current health care system.