BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts – In a bold move to shore up the federation’s public health infrastructure, the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis is moving forward with plans to reinstate the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College (CFBC), an initiative that has earned the full endorsement of Prime Minister and Health Minister Dr. Terrance Drew.
Announced in an official statement April 8, 2026, the program revival is framed as a targeted, long-overdue response to a persistent crisis that has strained local healthcare services: a critical shortage of nurses trained within Saint Kitts and Nevis. Speaking on the initiative, Dr. Drew framed the reinstatement as far more than an education policy adjustment—it is a core investment in the nation’s ability to deliver quality, accessible care to all residents.
“It is with great pride and a deep sense of national purpose that I lend my full support to the reinstatement of the Associate Degree in Nursing Programme at Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College,” Dr. Drew said. “This initiative represents a timely and strategic response to one of our most pressing public health challenges, the persistent shortage of locally trained nurses in the Federation.”
While the federation has long benefited from the contributions of foreign-trained healthcare workers, Dr. Drew emphasized that lasting healthcare resilience cannot depend on external recruitment alone. Building a sustainable, homegrown nursing workforce is critical to meeting the unique needs of local communities, he argued.
“Healthcare is a fundamental right, and a robust nursing workforce is central to delivering on that promise,” he stated. “It is imperative that we invest in building a homegrown workforce — nurses who understand our communities, our culture, and our unique health landscape.”
Addressing potential questions about the role of the ADN program alongside existing nursing education pathways, Dr. Drew clarified that the reinstatement is a progressive, pragmatic step rather than a reversal of prior reforms. The ADN model offers a competency-based, patient-centered training framework that has a proven track record of producing skilled, compassionate, and confident nursing professionals across the Caribbean region, he noted.
Government projections estimate that the revived program will boost the annual number of qualified nurses entering the local workforce, cut long-term dependence on overseas recruitment, and open new accessible career pathways for young Saint Kitts and Nevis residents seeking to enter healthcare.
The initiative aligns fully with the administration’s broader National Health Policy, which centers on achieving universal access to high-quality care for all residents of the federation, Dr. Drew added. He also extended recognition to the cross-sector collaboration that made the program revival possible, thanking the Ministry of Health, local nursing leadership, the St. Christopher and Nevis Nurses and Midwives Council, and all other participating stakeholders for their work to advance the initiative.
This report is based on a press release from the St. Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) published via SKNVibes.com.