The Diagnostic and Treatment Centre at the Suddie Hospital is expected to be operational next month, Minister within the Ministry of Health, Dr Bheri Ramsaran, said during a recent visit to the facility.
A Government Information Agency (GINA) press release said Ramsaran was accompanied by Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Hydar Ally, and a technical team from the contracting firm, Roy Bassoo and Sons Contracting Services. “We are at the final stages in the preparation aspect of getting this facility ready in time for it to be commissioned [in] February. Civil works are virtually completed and under the supervision of a technical Cuban team, the equipment is being installed,” Ramsaran said.
According to GINA, a 500-kilowatt power generator and other electrical panels are being prepared for installation.
The generator was obtained at an estimated cost of $10M and will provide a 24-hour supply of electricity to the hospital. Additionally, the x-ray machine to be used at the centre has arrived and is expected to be installed early next week.
Ramsaran, in his address to the media, said the centre will be the first referral institution in Region Two and will provide a range of new services not currently offered. It will also offer laboratory, intensive care, haematology, X-ray, ultrasound and improved gynaecological services. During the initial stages, the Suddie centre will be staffed by Cuban medical and technical personnel. Guyanese doctors and specialists currently being trained will eventually man the centre.
The Suddie, Leonora, Mahaicony and the recently commissioned Diamond centres as well as the $140M Ophthalmology Centre are projects implemented through a collaborative effort between the governments of Guyana and Cuba.
To date, the Diamond centre, commissioned in October, has served about 14,000 persons from the East Bank Demerara and surrounding villages. GINA said the Leonora and Mahaicony centres are almost complete. Equipment for the centres should soon arrive.
