The Academisch Ziekenhuis Paramaribo (AZP) will train 175 nurses in Basic Acute Care (BAZ). Through the programme, in which more than EUR 600,000 is being invested, the hospital aims to improve the quality of acute patient care.
The programme was officially launched on Monday, 19 October 2026, in the auditorium of the Medisch Diagnostisch en Behandelcentrum (MDBC). The participating general nurses will be given the opportunity over the course of one year to acquire additional knowledge and skills in acute care.
Simons seeks Dutch contribution to nurse training
During her speech, President Simons reflected on the continuing outflow of Surinamese nurses abroad, particularly to the Netherlands. According to the head of state, this so-called brain drain poses a major challenge to Suriname’s healthcare sector.
Simons said she had discussed the issue with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. She wants the Netherlands not only to make use of Surinamese healthcare professionals, but also to contribute financially and substantively to their training.
“If you need nurses from Suriname, then you must come and help us train them here,” the president stated.
According to Simons, a cooperation model could be developed in which nurses are trained in Suriname, subsequently gain work experience in the Netherlands temporarily and then return to apply their knowledge in Surinamese healthcare.
According to the head of state, there is not yet a final agreement. However, she stressed that she will continue to advocate for this proposal.
The president also pointed to the importance of patient-centred care. According to her, nurses must not only be well prepared medically and technically, but must also be attentive to the fear, pain and uncertainty with which patients are admitted to hospital.
Misiekaba: healthcare must not be solely about profit
Minister André Misiekaba of Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Arbeid (VWA) emphasised that healthcare is first and foremost a social responsibility. According to him, the quality of services must carry more weight than commercial interests.
The minister stated that the government is prepared to invest substantially in the training and further professionalisation of healthcare staff. In doing so, he called on healthcare institutions and experts to cooperate more intensively and to make better use of available knowledge, both within and outside Suriname.
Misiekaba expects that a stronger foundation for healthcare can be laid within three to four years. The aim is to achieve a situation within five to ten years in which society can rely on guaranteed care.
Nurses learn to recognise life-threatening situations more quickly
The BAZ programme is provided by the Dutch ExpertCollege-Nightingale Instituut (ENI), which specialises in training healthcare professionals in acute care.
According to AZP nursing director Faucia Niamut, the training programme consists of a combination of theoretical instruction and practical training. The digital learning platform KWEKI has also been developed for participants.
During the programme, nurses learn, among other things, how to identify deterioration in patients’ health conditions at an early stage and how to respond appropriately. They are also trained in resuscitation in accordance with applicable guidelines and protocols, recognising breathing problems and identifying internal and external bleeding in time.
The programme is part of the Health Care Facilities Readiness Initiative, through which the government is investing in strengthening the AZP’s care capacity.
By training 175 nurses, the hospital aims to increase expertise across various departments and contribute to faster and more effective treatment of patients requiring acute medical care.
