The original article can be found in: Trinidad Express By Sue-Ann Wayow
HEALTH MINISTER Dr Fuad Khan is investigating claims that five nurses were not allowed to continue a nursing course because they are pregnant.
The decision to ask the nurses to withdraw from the programme was disclosed in a letter to the editor.
The writer stated that the nurses felt “pain, hurt and anguish” about not being able to complete the programme.
On May 20, the Basic Nursing Education Programme began at South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA). It is a two-year programme organised by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tertiary Education and Skills Training, the Nursing Council of Trinidad and Tobago and SWRHA.
The programme is being conducted at the nurses’ hostel at Paradise Pasture, San Fernando.
Four days after the programme began, the nurses were told to leave, the letter writer stated.
“Many pregnant nurses completed previous programmes without getting sick. Some even worked back the hours they missed. However, these current student nurses were not given an opportunity to see how they will function throughout the duration of the programme. I believe they were treated unfairly and are being discriminated.”
Both Minister Khan and Minister of Tertiary Education Fazal Karim said they knew nothing about the termination.
Khan said, personally, he did not have a problem with pregnant nurses enrolling in a particular course, but the Nursing Council may have specific policies regarding the programme.
He said he will attempt to find out what the policies were.
However, when the Express contacted the Council yesterday, we were told “the Nursing Council only deals with the examinations at the end of the programme” and all questions should be directed to the Ministry of Health.
