A new program was announced Friday in Swan River, aimed at helping to train and recruit health care aides, with a goal of reopening ten long-term care beds, to improve the quality of care for local residents.

The Swan Valley Medical Professional Recruitment and Retention Committee will be offering fully-paid tuition to the University College of the North’s Health Care Aide program offered in Swan River, which gets underway on October 3rd.

The successful applicants will be required to sign a return of service agreement, to ensure that those who get the training will stay and work in the Swan Valley.

The recruitment committee says the funding, which will provide up to $5,600 per student, will make sure that qualified health care aides can work in the valley, rather than leaving the region.