Another Antigua and Barbuda will be Travelling to Japan to Participate in a Training and Dialogue Programme in Nursing Management.

Sister Valerie Browne Williams is the most recent person to be selected by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA ) to attend such a program, the previous being Nurse Idona Bachelor. The course in intended to help participants improve the quality of nursing management and nursing services their in respective hospitals. It is also aimed to train nursing managers in hospitals to raise their awareness and to improve their managerial capabilities. Nurse Williams will have the following opportunities in Japan:

1. Lectures on introductory subjects and general subjects related to leader’s training
2. Site visits to Japanese Institutions
3. Training in groups at Japanese Hospitals
4. Discussions on Clinical Practice
5. Problem Solving Methods
6. Formulation of Reports and Action Plans

In additon to Nursing Management, JICA has provided training to many Antiguan and Barbudans over the years. In the past 2009/2010 year alone, six (6) persons have been selected by JICA for various training opportunities in Japan to include:

Darez Dundas - Education in Science and Mathematics in Primary School

Daryl Spencer - Waste Management Techniques and Environment Education

Karen Cabrall - Japanese Programme for Foreign Service Offices

Natasha George - Japanese Programme for Young Diplomats and

Sherese George, a teacher of the Ottos Comprehensive School is presently on the Japanese Teaching Exchange 2009/2010. This program allows Miss George to teach English to Japanese students.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) was established on August 1974, with a view to contributing towards world peace and prosperity through its economic cooperation programmes.

JICA as a technical cooperation organization of Japan's ODA programme has accepted more than 170,000 participants in different fields for technical training in Japan from developing countries. To date, JICA has dispatched around 50,000 experts and 20,000 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) to other countries.