Students benefit from Dr Barry Wint Memorial Scholarship Programme

MEDICAL STUDENT Yanique Jackson was struggling financially, particularly with tuition fees, and there were many times “when I felt overwhelmed”, then came the Dr Barry Wint Memorial Scholarship Programme, which “gave me hope”.

“It gave me encouragement and reassurance that I was not alone. It reminded me that there are people and institutions who believed in me, who wanted me to succeed, and who understood the importance of investing in our future doctors. Because of that support, I was able to continue my studies,” Jackson said at a recent scholarship presentation ceremony for 151 new medical recipients, held at the AC Marriott Hotel in New Kingston.

The programme, which is named in honour of former chief medical officer, Dr Barry Wint, offered 600 scholarships in the first year, 2024, with 536 students taking up the offer, at a total cost of approximately $355.5 million.

The scholarship programme is part of the government’s strategic response to build capacity, fill gaps and strengthen the health system to ensure that every citizen, whether rural or urban, regardless of circumstance, has access to quality care.

Jackson said that her dying nephew, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, had told her that she would become one of the “best doctors ever”, and because of her scholarship, her dream of entering the medical profession is assured.

“I am proud to say that I am on the road to completing my medical education, and I am now in my final clinical rotation. I am just one step away from fulfilling the promise I made to myself and honouring the words my nephew spoke to me. To the Ministry of Health and Wellness, I extend my deepest gratitude for investing not just in me but to the future of healthcare in Jamaica,” she told the audience.

Under the programme, persons are selected to study medical technology, human resources for health, medical social work, epidemiology, medical physics, health records management, hospital/healthcare management, information systems for health, pharmacy, dentistry, health economics, as well as nursing and medicine.

Another recipient, Eneama Bryan,who completed a bachelor of science degree in dental laboratory technology at the University of Technology, Jamaica, shared that her educational journey was not “an easy one at all”, as working as a science laboratory assistant, while studying, and travelling back and forth between St Ann and Kingston, took a lot out of her, and there were many times “I honestly wondered if I could keep going”.

“By the time I reached my final year, things got so overwhelming, and I am still in awe how I went from typing my leave of absence letter on the grounds of facing extreme financial difficulties to receiving a congratulatory email stating that I was one of the recipients of the scholarships,” she said.

“This scholarship granted me the opportunity to dedicate myself wholeheartedly to my final year studies, free from the burdens of tuition worries. Being a recipient of this scholarship also reminded me that somebody believed in me, and that belief mattered, because when you come from humble beginnings sometimes you feel invisible,” Bryan added.

For new recipient, Lee Nelson, his selection for a scholarship that is in honour of a man who dedicated his life to the advancement of healthcare in Jamaica “is truly a privilege”.

“It will provide invaluable assistance in pursuing advanced studies, particularly in fields like medical physics, where precision and compassion come together to enhance patient care. By easing the financial burden, the scholarship will enable us to focus on developing the skills and expertise needed to make meaningful contributions to healthcare demand,” he said.

Principal director, corporate services in the Ministry of Health and Wellness and chairperson for the Scholarship Committee, Sonia Smith, said that the advertisements for the scholarships are done during the months of June and July, and then they determine the recipients “based on the criteria that we establish in terms of GPA (grade point average) maintenance”, noting that the processing is done online.

It is expected that by 2027, the scholarship programme will yield some 63 nursing graduates, four biomedical engineers, three social workers and 15 diagnostic imaging professionals who will serve the public health system.

By 2028, the programme should see the addition of 56 nurses, 10 midwives, and nine social workers trained to serve the public health system. By 2029, the programme is expected to yield 134 doctors and 42 dentists.