Health Authorities Encourage Young Antiguans to Choose Nursing

The government is urging young Antiguans to consider nursing as a career, pointing to expanded local training, scholarship support and growing opportunities for specialization as part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s health system.

Health officials said the appeal comes as Antigua and Barbuda works to rebuild its nursing workforce after years of attrition caused by migration, retirements and past workforce reductions. The government says investing in local talent is central to ensuring long-term stability and improved patient care.

During a recent media briefing, Health Minister Sir Molwyn Joseph encouraged young people to pursue nursing, describing the profession as essential to national development and public well-being. He noted that Antigua and Barbuda now has a key advantage it lacked in the past — local nurse training through the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus.

Officials said the UWI Five Islands Campus has already trained about 50 nurses and is expected to graduate more than 100 additional nurses over the next three years. The projections are part of a longer-term plan to improve nurse-to-patient ratios across both primary and tertiary healthcare services.

Hospital leaders and senior nursing officials said the push to attract young Antiguans is also aimed at reducing burnout among existing staff. They described current staffing levels as strained, with high nurse-to-patient ratios affecting morale and care delivery, particularly at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre.

Beyond basic training, the government is also promoting pathways for professional growth. Health officials outlined plans to support nurses in pursuing specialized fields such as intensive care, emergency nursing, dialysis and operating room care, including overseas training opportunities where necessary.

Authorities stressed that while short-term recruitment from abroad is being used to stabilize the system, the long-term goal is to build a self-sustaining, locally trained nursing workforce. They said encouraging young people to enter the profession is critical to reducing reliance on external staffing and ensuring continuity of care for future generations.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]