Grenada has taken a significant step forward in enhancing reproductive health services by certifying 10 district nurses in Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs). This initiative, spearheaded by the Grenada Planned Parenthood Association (GPPA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Religious Affairs, aims to provide women with extended contraceptive coverage of up to 10 years at the community level. The certification programme, funded by Global Affairs Canada through the Build Back Equal Project and administered by the UNFPA Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean, adheres to the protocols established by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO). Key contributors to the programme’s design include Consultant Dr Mark Hathaway and Rudolfo Gomez Ponce de Leon, with facilitation by Dr N’Kosha Fletcher and Nurse Lynthia Buckmire. To achieve certification, nurses completed a rigorous training programme, including practical sessions on the insertion of IUDs and Jadelle implants, as well as PAHO online courses. Since its implementation, 227 women have directly benefited from the initiative, and four additional healthcare providers are currently undergoing training, further expanding the team of experts available to serve the community.
