The country's health sector is poised to benefit from the services of new recruits following the graduation of 114 students from the National Institute of Health and Social Studies (NIHSS).

The number of graduants is the highest recorded in the 53-year history of formal health professional training in Seychelles.

The graduation ceremony,  which took place Wednesday January 15th  at the International Conference Centre, included the presentation of certificates, awards and cash prizes to the outstanding student of the year, best performers in each of the ten courses the students followed, as well as those who have made exceptional efforts in their studies.

The prizes were presented by the Minister for Health, Mr Patrick Pillay, and the director for Health Education and Promotion at the ministry, Mrs Monica Servina.

The graduates completed courses in midwifery, physiotherapy, environmental health science, emergency care assistant, nursing, advanced physiotherapy, occupational therapy, biomedical laboratory science, dental therapy and pharmaceutical dispensing.

Ramona Tamboo, who was following the course in nursing, clinched the Outstanding Student of the Year Award. She won a trophy sponsored by Minister Pillay.

The best performer awards for each of the ten courses went to Jeanne Low-toy from biomedical laboratory science, Sandra Labiche (midwifery), Elise Ernesta (physiotherapy), Amanda Agricole (environmental health science), Begguita Arissol (emergency care assistant), Carol Lesperance (nursing), Marie-Rose Florine (advanced physiotherapy), Rose Agathine (occupational therapy), Ketsia Marie (dental therapy) and Afra Aglae (pharmaceutical dispensing).

The best effort awards went to Don Anacoura (biomedical laboratory science), Eldrick Dodin (the only male following the midwifery course), Yvonne Legaie (Physiotherapy), Trevor Payet (environmental health science), Geralda Renaud (emergency care assistant), Juadette Assaf (nursing), Lisette Gomme (advanced physiotherapy), Annabelle Labiche (occupational therapy), Carol Celestine (dental therapy) and Thecla Renaud (pharmaceutical dispensing).

The awards were presented by their respective sponsors.

In his speech to mark the occasion Minister Pillay congratulated all the health graduants who he said had worked timelessly and professionally to achieve their goals.

He also saluted all those who had in the last 52 years contributed in one way or another in the development of the institute to the level it had reached today.

Throughout this year, Minister Pillay said, the ministry would continue to strengthen its programme and move ahead with more vigour to provide the citizens of Seychelles with quality health care.

"As we do that, we shall endeavour to streamline all in-service training that focuses on enhancing the qualification of our health professionals under the umbrella of the National Institute of Health and Social Studies," he added.

This, he said, was important to better facilitate staff deployment and ensure better coordination of all courses.

The ministry, he said, would continue to provide the institute with all the necessary support to ensure appropriate institutional as well as staff development to bring NIHSS to greater heights.

Minister Pillay further stressed that the human resources was the key determinant of the quality of any health care service provided in health care system and urged the graduants to see "how they can add what they can to" instead of trying "to get what they can from life."

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