Government has allocated $10 billion to the health sector and will spend over $4 billion on the construction of new hospitals and polyclinics in a number of communities throughout the country.
“We will devote more resources to reducing maternal, neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality rates, and provide universal access to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria prevention and treatment services, Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh said during the Budget Day speech on Friday.
“Over the next five years, we intend to expand existing and develop new strategies and policies to improve health care and wellness. We will reduce the necessity for treatment abroad by converting the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) into a genuine tertiary care hospital, capable of providing new services such as open heart surgery, radiation cancer treatment, and hip and joint replacement surgeries.”
The minister said a comprehensive treatment, prevention and eye care programme has been developed and is being implemented. “Its components include the establishment of a modern eye care specialist hospital at Port Mourant, eye care services at all the regional hospitals, expansion of eye screening to all schools and communities, and free eye examination and distribution of free spectacles to vulnerable groups.”
Singh said the government will intensify prevention and treatment programmes for ailments such as diabetes, hypertension, heart diseases, cancer, mental health and disability, and promote healthy lifestyles and living through, for example, house-to-house visits by health advocates and a strong education programme.
More doctors, nurses, medexes, and community health, environmental, and other workers will be trained to meet the needs of the expanding system. “In this respect, we have concluded a long-term Medical Scholar-ship Programme with Cuba that would see 515 persons being sent for training during 2006-08,” the minister said.
These doctors will be placed in all regions of the country on their return and the training programme will also provide the personnel to staff the four diagnostic and treatment centres, now under construction at Diamond, Suddie, Leonora and Mahaicony, as well as the National Ophthalmological Hospital at Port Mourant.
He said government is currently formulating a five-year strategic plan for nursing, which will look at nurse-training, retention and effective recruitment tactics. “Nursing training has been greatly expanded, with some 250 persons from all parts of the country about to undergo intensive training as nurses.”
The minister said that with a view to modernising the regulatory framework within which health institutions and workers currently operate, a new Health Promotion and Protection Bill will be introduced this year.
This bill will address issues dealing with the environment, especially solid waste and medical waste disposal; noise nuisance; and air pollution.
Under the Basic Nutrition Programme, $590 million will be spent to continue with the manufacturing and distribution of sprinkles (micronutrient powder) to children and pregnant women. This is in order to reduce the malnutrition-related morbidity and mortality in these targets groups.
Construction of the Mackenzie Regional Hospital will continue and the electric, water and sewage systems at the GPHC compound will be upgraded. Additionally, the in-patient wards and other priority facilities at GPHC will be rehabilitated and upgraded.
HIV and AIDS
The minister said government has allocated $335 million to continue the fight against HIV and AIDS. “We propose to develop and implement standardised protocols and guidelines for HIV/AIDS care at all levels in the recipient’s health care.”
The minister said that this year, three Voluntary Counselling and Testing and Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Centres/ Laboratories will be established in the health centres at Plaisance, Mocha and Kuru Kururu. New health centres will be constructed in Philipai and Belle West, and the Kabakuri health centre and Pakera cottage hospital will be rehabilitated.